[RFI] DFing intermittent connection

[K9MA]

We get plenty of lightning in Wisconsin, but in my case the shunt around 
the thrust bearing (and rotator) is mainly to prevent harmonic 
generation when shunt feeding the tower.  If the tower gets a direct 
hit, damaged bearings will be the least of my worries.

73,
Scott K9MA

On 8/16/2021 9:43 PM, Eddie Edwards wrote:
> As long as you don't get a lot of lightning up in Wisconsin, the impedance of your entire ground protection system probably doesn't matter as much either.  But isn't that the point of all the bonding and grounding just in case?
> YMMV
>
> 73, de ed -K0iL
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: RFI <rfi-bounces+eddieedwards=centurylink.net at contesting.com> On Behalf Of K9MA
> Sent: Monday, August 16, 2021 17:42
> To: donovanf at erols.com; rfi at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [RFI] DFing intermittent connection
>
> Hi Frank,
>
> That makes sense. All I ever used it for was as a shunt around the thrust bearing, for which the impedance probably wasn't that critical.
>
> 73,
> Scott K9MA
>
>
> On 8/16/2021 4:44 PM, donovanf at erols.com wrote:
>> Hi Scott,
>>
>> Braid is always a poor choice outdoors unless its under pressure and
>> protected from moisture such as inside jacketed coax cable
>>
>> When its no longer under pressure and protected from moisture the RF
>> resistance of braid goes up dramatically because the crossovers in the
>> braid no longer conduct effectively.
>>
>> That's why the appropriate choice for an outdoor conductor is stranded
>> wire or solid wire and never braid
>>
>> 73
>> Frank
>> W3LPL
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> --
>> *From: *"K9MA" <k9ma at sdellington.us>
>> *To: *donovanf at erols.com, rfi at contesting.com
>> *Sent: *Monday, August 16, 2021 9:27:16 PM
>> *Subject: *Re: [RFI] DFing intermittent connection
>>
>> Gee, it's worked for me for years. Not much salt spray in Wisconsin.
>>
>> 73,
>> Scott K9MA
>>
>> On 8/16/2021 12:32 PM, donovanf at erols.com wrote:
>>
>>      Jim,
>>
>>      Please ignore Scott's advice, it will cause tower corrosion and
>>      quickly fail
>>
>>      73
>>      Frank
>>      W3LPL
>>
>>      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>      *From: *"K9MA" <k9ma at sdellington.us>
>>      *To: *jimk8mr at aol.com
>>      *Cc: *rfi at contesting.com
>>      *Sent: *Monday, August 16, 2021 4:30:35 PM
>>      *Subject: *Re: [RFI] DFing intermittent connection
>>
>>      Or just use the braid from some RG8 and a couple hose clamps.
>>
>>
>>
>>      ----------
>>
>>      Scott Ellington. K9MA
>>
>>       --- via iPhone
>>
>>      > On Aug 16, 2021, at 9:27 AM, jimk8mr--- via RFI
>>      <rfi at contesting.com> wrote:
>>      >
>>      > The kit is basically a very heavy, very flexible cable, six
>>      feet or so, with lugs on both ends, and clamps with a large flat
>>      surface to attach to the mast and to the tower leg. I'd think that
>>      the bottom lug could be attached to a tower bolt, or some other
>>      low resistance connection to the tower.
>>      > It would seem to also be simple to homebrew something a bit less
>>      rugged, perhaps using a piece of RG-8, shield and center conductor
>>      connected together.
>>      >
>>      > 73  -   Jim   K8MR
>>      >
>>      >
>>      >
>>      > -----Original Message-----
>>      > From: EDWARDS, EDDIE J via RFI <rfi at contesting.com>
>>      > To: RFI List <rfi at contesting.com>
>>      > Sent: Mon, Aug 16, 2021 9:09 am
>>      > Subject: Re: [RFI] DFing intermittent connection
>>      >
>>      > Just FYi...They told me they only have the bypass kits for
>>      standard Rohn towers, but not for the BX or HDBX series towers.
>>       Need to make your own for other non-rohn configurations.
>>      >
>>      > 73, de ed -K0iL
>>      >
>>      > -----Original Message-----
>>      > From: RFI On Behalf Of jimk8mr--- via RFI
>>      >
>>      >
>>      > You might look into DX Engineering's Bearing Bypass Ground Kits
>>      DXE-BBGK-2-25-P.
>>      > I installed one yesterday for K8AZ. I'm not sure if Tom had a
>>      particular problem or it was just as a precaution. It easy to
>>      install, the only issue in my case was that the tower had been
>>      painted, so some paint scraping was in order. But much easier than
>>      replacing a thrust bearing!
>>      >
>>      > 73  -  Jim   K8MR
>>      >
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>>
>> --
>> Scott  K9MA
>>
>> k9ma at sdellington.us
>>
> --
> Scott  K9MA
>
> k9ma at sdellington.us
>
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-- 
Scott  K9MA

k9ma at sdellington.us