[TowerTalk] static drainage

[Mark Beckwith]

Can anybody tell me if the Array Solutions Six Pack drains unused antennas?

Mark, N5OT

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chuck Counselman" <ccc at space.mit.edu>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2003 7:58 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
> 
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>