[TowerTalk] Static Charge field/strike detector reply de K0FF

[K0FF]

The current trough a neon tube would be too low to run a relay direct. There
is a version of the Vactrol that uses a neon tube, and it shines on a
phototransistor, all sealed in a plastic tube. I have a few, or can get them
from Gateway Electronics in St. Louis .

The photo resistor could drive a counter etc.

Happy Homebrewing, Geo>KØFF
http://homepages.dstream.net/K0FF

----- Original Message -----
From: Mark . <n1lo@hotmail.com>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2001 1:32 PM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Static Charge field/strike detector


> I seem to remember reading a post way back in the archives about a way to
> homebrew your own detector for charge fields that were strong enough to
> become dangerous.
>
> It centered around using a sensing antenna of 10-20 feet of wire connected
> to one leg of a neon light bulb. The other leg of the bulb was connected
to
> the coil of a relay, with the opposite coil connection to ground. Perhaps
> there was a limiting resistor in series between the bulb and relay coil.
> When the charge built up strong enough, the voltage would exceed 90V,
ionize
> and fire the bulb, which then began to conduct and fire the relay.
> The relay was used to ground a telephone line and it was touted as firing
> reliably preceding and during nearby lightning strikes.
> Anybody else remember this? Or was I watching the Travel Channel?
Seriously
> though, I thought it was on this reflector, but for the life of me, I
cannot
> find it in the archives. I thought I had saved it somewhere.
> I don't remember what voltage the relay coil was that worked. perhaps it
was
> 110VAC?
>
> --...MARK_N1LO...--
>    Gloucester, VA
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