[Lowfer] WC2XSR/13 rain problems today

[David Willmore]

> I'm really intrigued about one part of Ralph's message, though:
> >> If the droplet
> >>reached critical size, and just before it fell away from the gap leg, if
> >>the transmitter turned on at that moment, the high electric field would
> >>attract the water droplet into the narrow portion of the gap itself.
> 
> I've seen static electric fields do this, of course, but has anyone ever
> seen an account before of an electric field oscillating at an RF rate
> attracting water droplets?  Ralph, is there some circumstance which could
> account for a high DC voltage being present on the antenna at that same
> time?

With dissimilar electrode shapes, you can get a diode effect--in that the
sharper point on one side is more likely to emit electrons than the rounded
(rain droplet) on the other.  Sort of like the bowl at the top of a Van
de Graff generator acts as a diode.

But, then again, I haven't played with HV since I was a child and indestructable.
Now, I'm old and all too mortal.

Cheers,
David N0YMV