[PCR-1000] Polarity & lightning

[John]

All electricity has polarity, even the static kind.  The polarity of a
lightning charge does determine how you position diodes if that is what you
are doing, but the bottom line is the electricity in a passing cloud is
seeking a ground and it tends to follow the path of least resistance.  If
you have a convenient lightning rod (your antenna) encouraging it to come
home it does just that, and ZAP, the deed is done, and usually vaporizes
everything along the way.

If you provide lightning a path to ground, your little coils and diodes will
be an absolute JOKE.  Years ago when I was in the USAF and a  maintenance
guy on a 50KW SSB transmitter hooked to a LPS antenna we took a lightning
hit.  We had every protection is place it was possible to have, but it
really didn't matter.  First the lightning blew out a 2 foot long hole in
the side of our 6 inch nitrogen filled copper tube transmission line.  Then
it finally grounded in the foot square, 3/4 inch thick aluminum encased
final amp.  That box had four ceramic/metal klystron tubes, each of which
weighted several pounds, along with associated circuitry.  When we finally
removed it's cover the only thing left was a half inch thick red dust
coating on that enclosure.

I suspect you might be saver disconnecting your antenna and not grounding at
all but that is just my theory.

John