Re [Premium-Rx] Lightning hitting your Premium RX

[Cecil Acuff]

Hey Folks,

        Keep in mind that the NE-2 is only effective for static charge 
reduction.  It will provide little protection for lightning strikes...even 
nearby strikes.  Most protection devices that are effective today are using 
a gas tube of some sort that is designed to ionize and take massive amounts 
of instantaneous current to ground.  Some are also designed to be fast 
enough to provide some protection against EMP damage.  I am familiar with 
the Polyphaser products that provide that protection.  They do have a 
limited life span and need to be tested (if you have the means) or replaced 
routinely.  After a few good strikes they go out of spec. and don't clamp at 
the design voltages allowing unnecessary damage to occur.  They require a 
low impedance, high current path to your system ground to work properly. 
Cost around $70-$80 each.  They can be tested with a Hypot tester.

Good investment...

Cecil Acuff


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Edward Knobloch" <ed.knobloch at verizon.net>
To: <premium-rx at ml.skirrow.org>
Sent: Friday, April 08, 2005 10:37 AM
Subject: Re [Premium-Rx] Lightning hitting your Premium RX


> Hi, Gang
>
> I second the idea of a neon bulb across the antenna input,
> popular since at least the 1950's among hams.
>
> Beware of the current Radio Shack "NE-2", though.  They package a NE-2 
> bulb with a series resistor
> (something like 47K) for 110V operation, and still call that combination 
> an "NE-2".  For receiver protection
> you want a bare Ne-2 bulb without the series resistor.
>
> Among some mil surplus electronics stuff I bought as a lot on eBay,
> came two "transient eliminators," small diecast boxes with BNC connectors.
> They were labeled "LEA Dynatech, Santa Fe Springs, CA
> TE(HF) 75-BIP 12".  I leave one installed on my Racal 6790,
> and have not had a repeat of the failure of the first mixer card,
> which happened twice in my first year of ownership.
> I don't know what magic device is inside the diecast box -
> perhaps an NE-2?
>
> 73,
> Ed Knobloch
>
>
> w3jn at direcway.com wrote:
>
>>A neon bulb across the input works FB for draining off static charges.  A 
>>NE-2 fires at about 60 volts, IIRC.
>>
>>Don't try this if you're gonna xmit thru it - you'll wreck the bulb.
>>
>>73 John
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> Premium-Rx Mailing List
> To Post: premium-rx at ml.skirrow.org
> For Info: http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/premium-rx
> Visit the Website: http://kahuna.sdsu.edu/~mechtron/PremRxPage/
>