[PCR-1000] Grounding

[Barry Hauser]

Frank wrote:

> I hope you claimed all this on your homeowner's insurance policy.
Carefully
> check ALL of your radio gear including S-meters, SWRs, active antenna
> controllers, antenna rotor controllers, and antenna matchers.

Take inventory while you're at it.

  Don;t forget
> to check ALL of your audio gear 0 including those less often used devices.
> Be sure to check the outside antenna grounds to be sure the bolt didn't
> create an oxidized connection between the ground rod and grounding
cable(s).

Also look for downlead where all or part of the copper conductor inside has
vaporized, pinholes or larger through insulation where downlead runs near
grounded objects -- pipes, etc., even stuff that's gotten spot-welded
together and components that are just plain missing.

>
> Most homeowner's and renter insurance policies cover such events -
including
> the things you find 'fried' a little later.   Microwave ovens, well pumps
> and their control boxes, water softeners with electronic controls, radios,
> TVs, VCRs, refrigerators and freezers, anything with a microprocessor
> controller, and computers seem the most vulnerable.  Some of the damage
may
> not show up right away.  Insurance companies in the US are pretty much
used
> to fairly covering these claims without too much fuss.

Don't know that I agree.  In the early 80's I had a direct strike on the TV
antenna mast which then went through my antenna network (pre-cable) and the
house wiring.  The lightning also when full circle through the aluminum
soffets, but had a problem making sharp turns and peppered the corners with
tiny holes.

There was quite a bit of electrical damage -- TV, Dynaco FM tuner & big amp,
air conditioner, etc.  Mini-explosions included the light switch/outlet in
the kitchen, Blonder-Tongue antenna coupler in the basement, etc.  Curtain
was singed where the charge went through the downlead to a radiator.

Anyway, the insurance adjuster set a cap on what they would pay because so
much of it was electronic.  Told us that if you have, let's say $50K
coverage on contents, only a certain percentage of that is allocated to
electronics, home entertainment, appliances, etc.

Fortunately, the lightning was capricious.  Only a 555 chip in the amp was
bad and one other small part.  The 75/300 ohm balun inside the FM-5 was
vaporized with the ferrite rolling around in the case.  Part of the circuit
board foil was vaporized but when I bridged it, the thing worked.  A pigtail
fuse had blown in the AC supply of the TV -- literally exploded.  Replaced
it but no luck -- but was still covered under warranty, as the cause was not
apparent. Couldn't do anything with the A/C though.  Get this:  If the
curtain wasn't singed or there wasn't a small soot mark inside the tuner, I
wouldn't have collected a dime.  Something about
fire/comprehensive/homeowner's not covering lightning, but only a fire that
results from it.

I made out OK, but more due to dumb luck.  You may have plenty of coverage
in the aggregate, but read your policies and check with the insurance co. if
it's not clear.  If you get the same story as I did, you can get a "rider"
for a few bucks more that covers the extra equipment on an inventory, or
extends coverage on electronics above the usual proportion.  Also check the
wording on lightning damage -- is it electrical damage, or only if their are
signs of combustion?

When there are lightning strikes about, best thing is to unplug things and
leave the plugs, connectors, etc. far from where they plug in.

So, (as we return to on-topicness) when lightning's afoot, unplug your
PCR-1000, place it back in the original polybag and box, and put it under
your bed until the sun comes out. (I had lightning arrestors all over that
place and the TV mast was grounded with heavy cable and an 8 foot rod into
the ground where there was constant water runoff from the driveway.  The
lightning wasn't impressed, but the neighbors were.  They said the place was
lit up - very brightly.

My apologies for the lack of brevity, but if it helps one or two ....  then,
heck, I rescind my apology ;-)

Barry