[NCC] Visit from the power company

[Nzharps@aol.com]

After all these years the truth finally comes out..CAR really uses the Alpha 
as an intermediate stage to drive the REAL amp:)

73,
Ron


In a message dated 2/16/05 5:57:04 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
w8car at buckeye-express.com writes:
Today the power company pulled up in front of W8CAR with one of their boom 
trucks and knocked on my door. They informed me they were going to do some 
maintanence and we would be without power for about 30 minutes. Turns out, as I 
watched, they were replacing the lightening arrestor. After the boom guy removed 
the arrestor and put the new one on he stopped and had a discussion with the 
ground guy. He then began walking up to the house. I went out to meet him as I 
was curious.

He asked if I'd had any electrical problems lately as the arrestor looks like 
it had been hit pretty good. He also said there was a hole in the top of the 
tranformer !!!!!!!!He was surprised that we hadn't had a problem and stated we 
probably had several hits on that pole or near it to do the damage. They had 
another crew bringing a new one out and we'd be without power for a while yet.

They unbolted the old one and brought a new BIGGER pole pig and bolted it on. 
My neighbor and I now have power back!

1) I didn't tell them I owned an Alpha!
2) Bigger transformer-bigger tube--- 8877???
3) They were very courteous, efficient and 'goterdone' in a very short time
4) Has a contest operation ever caused a lightening strike like event?

We have not had any electrical damage here ( that I know of) and I do have 
computers, radios and 'sensitive' electronics protected by power strip type 
surge protectors. I guess I was very lucky not to have damage from the strike(s)

FWIW
Dan
W8CAR