Topband: Polyphaser IS-50UX-CO vs ICE Model 303?

[Jim Brown]

On 1/20/2013 1:40 AM, cx7tt at 4email.net wrote:
> I started replacing all items along the path and discovered the PP on 
> the grounded copper board at the base of the tower had gone 'south'... 

Several points here. First, there is no value to lightning suppression 
at the base of a tower unless that tower is next to the shack.  A 
lightning suppressor shorts the center conductor to the shield to 
protect equipment that the coax feeds.  It is most effective very near 
the equipment.

Second, lightning protection depends very strongly on proper bonding 
together of all the equipment and wiring in your home, to each other, 
and to all earth connections. That means EVERYTHING.  Caps for emphasis 
added.

Third, while I have no practical way of knowing when Polyphasers have 
failed "open," I have experienced at least four occasions of Polyphasers 
failing shorted. On at least two of those occasions the cause of the 
failure has been very high voltage at the Polyphaser, most recently 
caused by the 40M element of my 80/40 fan breaking in a windstorm and 
hitting with legal limit power before I had figured that out.

It should be possible to restore the Polyphaser to new condition by 
replacing the gas tube if a source for the tube (including its spec) can 
be found.

73, Jim K9YC