[TenTec] Pegasus & lightning

[Dale L. Martin]

>Which begs the question:  Is it safe to disconnect your transmission
line
>and lay it out on the floor? ]

Yes.  Better if you ground it, though.


>If the transmission line connects to an
>ungrounded antenna (a dipole, for instance), then it can build up
very high
>voltages even if not directly hit by lightning.
>
More reason for grounding the coax/feedline end.


>But if the antenna is hit, do we think that lightning which has
jumped
>hundreds of feet is going to respect the six feet between the
operator and
>that coax on the floor?
>
No.  It's faceitious to believe that.

BUT....

it's better than doing nothing and leaving the equipment connected.

Most lightning strikes are simply "nearby" strikes.  Those nearby
strikes can carry a lot of energy to your antenna system, energy that
can damage equipment.  It's the nearby strikes that disconnecting will
likely protect against most often.

The direct strike is probably a lesser likelihood and certainly can
cause more damage than a nearby strike.

At least, by disconnecting (and grounding), you have hopefully reduced
the chances of being affected by a nearby strike or even a direct
strike.


>Seems that might risk turning an otherwise useful ham into a krispy
kritter.
>I'd rather lose a rig than a life.
>

If you wait until you hear the storm's thunder, you are certainly
putting yourself at risk.  That's why I say that whenever you are not
operating, disconnect everything. Then, you don't have to worry about
racing the storm to your feedlines/ac power, etc.





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