I had a number of lightning strikes when I had my 160' tower in Illinois.
Lightning really does strange things. Maybe you can lessen the damage by
installing more ground rods and installing a single point ground. Why can't
you do a whole house ground? Did you have a ground cable attached to your
transciever? If so that may have caused the ham gear damage.
John KK9A
To: TowerTalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Advice
From: Ed Privette
Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 12:03:26 -0400
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Guys I need some advice
I took my third major lightning hit in 10 years. I have a total of
ten 10' ground rods and it did not hit the tower/antennas or
associated cables. It hit beside my driveway, blew dirt and mud on
the house and driveway.
I am at 3200' on a mountain ridge in western NC, poor soil.
I have quick disconnects on all rotor and SteppIR control wires and
all coax disconnected unless I'm physically in my house. This strike
exited in my shack/office. Burned two black streaks across the oak
floor and through the insulation of the DISCONNECTED AC cables and
fried almost every piece of ham gear on my desk. It appeared to have
come out of the phone jack. It is blown out of the wall and burned
black around it. With everything including the ground disconnected
this is like someone said "we don't care what precautions you take
you're going to get it".
Thats the history. Here is my question. I bought a Surgex SXN240
series suppressor. This unit has an input of 220/240 2 phase VAC
rated at 20A. I intend to mount it on the wall and pull one 240v
circuit from the output for my amp and two 120v legs for the rest of the
gear.
This puppy is supposed to protect major medical equipment. I intend
to shield all in/out circuits in grounded armored cable. Still using
disconnects to everything on my desk. Does that sound like a good
plan? I'm sure my insurance carrier is going to pitch me out after this one.
I can't do a "whole house ground" the way my place is laid out. There
are three grounds at the tower, three under my window and four near
the main entry panel.
Any suggestions appreciated
73, Ed W4EP
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