[TowerTalk] RCS-4 Coax Switch

[Floyd Sense]

I had a direct hit on one of the antennas connected to my RCS-4.  The box
exploded due to the rapidly expanding hot gases inside, and the traces were
mostly blown off the circuit board.

K8AC

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tower (K8RI)" <tower at rogerhalstead.com>
To: <K8fu at aol.com>; <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2004 4:36 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] RCS-4 Coax Switch


>
> I set mine up to ground everything except the antenna in use. All antennas
> have baluns which puts them at DC ground potential as far as static build
up
> as well.  There is a polyphaser right at the feed coax input to the
switch.
> So far it's still working after three years and at least 9 direct hits to
> the tower and who knows how many nearby strikes.
>
> Without using static build up protection such as setting the relays up as
> normally grounded and not using baluns that put the wires at DC ground I'd
> expect to see some problems.
>
> Of course if the antenna takes a direct hit there isn't much that will
> protect the relays.
>
> Roger Halstead (K8RI, EN73 & ARRL Life Member)
> N833R, World's Oldest Debonair (S# CD-2)
> www.rogerhalstead.com
>