[TowerTalk] Testing ICE arrestors

[K8RI on TowerTalk]

Test Metal Oxide Varistors (MOVs) at their working potential.  Every over 
voltage, even testing, degrades them.

I would caution uses of Polyphasers not to use this method of testing.

Normal MOV failure mode is shorted.  If  they have failed open it is usually 
quite evident.
MOVs failing open are usually nothing but a pair of leads pointing to where 
the MOV had been located.
You should try standing next to a 50,000 Joule MOV when it lets go. <:-))

 Roger Halstead (K8RI and ARRL 40 year Life Member)
N833R - World's oldest Debonair CD-2
www.rogerhalstead.com (Use return address from home page)


The surge suppressor for ICE rotator controls uses MOVs in parallel with
capacitors for each lead.  Typical failure modes of each is a short
circuit or low resistance.  I wouldn't hi-pot them, either.  Energy from
the hi-pot may cause an MOV to fail if it is applied for too long a time.

73 de WOØW

Jim McDonald wrote:

>How can one tell if used ICE coax arrestors or 8-conductor control cable
>arrestors are still good?  DC continuity on the center conductor of the 
>coax
>arrestors?  DC continuity of the control cable arrestors?  SWR connected to
>a dummy load for the coax arrestors?
>
>Jim N7US
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>TowerTalk mailing list
>TowerTalk at contesting.com
>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>
>
>
_______________________________________________



_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk