[TowerTalk] static drainage

[Mark]

Depends where you live ... not a problem here on the Far Northern California
coast.....  73, Mark  AA6DX
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chuck Counselman" <ccc at space.mit.edu>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2003 5:58 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] static drainage


> At 7:59 AM -0500 1/27/03, Pete N4ZR wrote:
> >...is it worthwhile to install 1.5 megohm resistors inside the relay
> >boxes across each antenna jack, as is done in the Heathkit switch,
> >presumably to drain static electricity?
>
> Yes, very much so!  An antenna (or part of an antenna, such as
> one-half of a dipole connected to the center-conductor of a coaxial
> feedline) left floating very easily acquires a (literally) staggering
> electric charge, more than enough to blow a receiver front-end.
>
> Probably you should also have a lightning protector in the feedline
> from each antenna.
>
> -Chuck, W1HIS