[TenTec] OT: Openwire/Window Line and Bad Wx

[Bob McGraw - K4TAX]

The items you are suggesting, and what Rick describes can be found at:
http://www.thewireman.com/prodpix5.html

See the pixs.  Or you can build your own.  I did and they reliably work not 
only for near-by lightning strikes but to discharge static from wind and 
blowing snow.

One point folks seem not to realize regarding a arc gap, when it ignites it 
is effective to near zero resistance for the duration of the arc.   I've use 
mine at various places on the balanced feed and at legal limit power, no 
issue of flash-over when gapped at .015" to .035"  but they certainly flash 
over in environmental conditions.

73
Bob, K4TAX






----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stuart Rohre" <rohre at arlut.utexas.edu>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 8:17 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] OT: Openwire/Window Line and Bad Wx


> Usually a double pole knife switch used to switch antennas would have a 
> double throw.  That is in one direction it made the circuit tot he radio, 
> in the other direction it either connected to the receiver, or to ground 
> fot dissipate any static build up on the antenna.
>
> To protect parallel line feeder, you can take a pair of used spark plugs 
> and put the points close enough to not arc over with your transmitter's 
> maximum power, but to still arc over if static build up happens.  Wind 
> induced static can build quickly to over 600 volts and reach thousands of 
> volts in the presence of a nearby lightning event.
>
> There are also telephone type line protectors for nominal 600 ohm lines. 
> The modern versions use a Zener diode on each line leg, that breaks over 
> to conduct to a ground rod, at a peak voltage higher than the radio RF 
> wave voltage.  The diodes that come for telephone service may not be as 
> resistant to constant RF, and may need to be changed to a higher break 
> down diode.
>
> -Stuart
> K5KVH
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