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[TowerTalk] spark gaps & GDT's for lightning/static protection

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] spark gaps & GDT's for lightning/static protection
From: Grant Saviers <grants2@pacbell.net>
Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2017 12:29:57 -0700
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
I've seen pictures of all sorts of gaps, two wires almost touching, interlocking rings, adjacent spheres, Jacobs ladder like rods with tapered spacing , etc. One amateur radio product uses automotive spark plugs (non resistor) and is sold as a pair on a copper plate for open wire feeders. However, a copper plumbing sweat fitting is soldered over the gap so it is impossible to measure the gap. My question is, if I use a non resistor spark plug as a arc gap, is there any experience that can be shared about what the gap distance should be set to? I plan to have a removable cover over the gap end for WX protection .

Are there better designs for a gap that are easy to fabricate and weather/bug resistant?

And a second question: Gas discharge capsules are used in coax lightning protection devices. A large variety of gas discharge components are stocked at Mouse, Digikey, etc in various voltages and Kamps. Is there any difference in the RF properties of the tube in the in-line coax devices vs what I can buy a lot cheaper as a component? eg Littlefuse and TDK 800v @ 10Ka around $3ea.

http://www.littelfuse.com/~/media/electronics/datasheets/gas_discharge_tubes/littelfuse_gdt_cg_cg2_datasheet.pdf.pdf

Grant KZ1W
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