[TowerTalk] static drainage

[Dale L Martin]

>
> At 6:30 AM -0800 1/27/03, Mark wrote:
> >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>
> >  >...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.
>
>
> You don't need lightning to charge an antenna electrostatically.
> Precipitation can do it, and even dry wind.
>
> -Chuck, W1HIS
>

In even a light snow fall, I used to draw 2-3" arcs off the end of an endfed
wire antenna strung between barracks buildings when I was stationed at
Navcomsta Iceland (Keflavik).

dale, kg5u