[RFI] Strong, broadband noise during wet conditions

[qrv at kd4e.com]

My local experience was that the utility co was grateful for the
heads-up.  They found several nearly disintegrated lightning
protectors that only looked OK from the ground.

The said they would inevitably have failed at 3AM on a weekend
when they'd have to drag someone out of bed for OT pay to do the
emergency repair.

> If it was not snowing at the time then it was likely dirty or damaged
> insulators on the primary power line.  The noise could be conducted quite a
> distance on the primary wire so would cover a big area.  Noise like that may
> sometimes only occur when things are damp because the small amount of
> moisture will cause arcing through small cracks or across dirt on the
> insulators, but when it is fully wet by rain it may stop... so try to check
> in the morning if there is dew, or just as rain starts, or when snow or ice
> is melting as you have seen.  Be prepared to check a relatively large area,
> a mile or two would not be surprising.  Since you are looking for arcing the
> higher you can go in frequency the closer you can define the source, vhf or
> uhf AM or SSB receivers are good, especially with hand held yagis...
> ultrasonic dishes are good for locating the source once you have it down to
> a pole or two.  Beware, there may be more than one source, especially if it
> is a contamination problem... if you are downwind of plowed farmland or
> industrial area contamination can be a real problem.
>
> David Robbins K1TTT



-- 

Thanks! & 73, KD4E.com
David Colburn nevils-station.com
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