The polyphasers are good protectors but be aware that they rely on gas
tubes for protection and their failure mode is one that leaves you
unknowingly unprotected. After so many ionizations the gas tube will fail
and won't clamp on the next strike. For a time Polyphaser made a test set
to verify the function of the gas tube. We use those at work to test
those in use once a year and every year we find a few that have failed.
Polyphaser quit selling the test set (FIST4) several years back so one
will need to find another way to test them....maybe a meggar.
They don't only fail high. They fail low too.
One of the more common damage failures in high power amplifiers is running
them in systems with lightning protection gas tubes that fire at lower than
planned voltage.
That can really tear things up if the lightning protection device is the
right distance away to reflect the wrong impedance at the amplifier output
port.
Such devices have limited value anyway. If they let a few kilowatts of
energy out, they will let enough back in to tear things up.
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Topband Reflector
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