[TowerTalk] lightning protection

[Jim Lux]

At 12:36 PM 1/3/2006, kd4e wrote:
>Craig,
>
>     Other than that you stock the ICE devices in your
>business  ;-)  is there any compelling reason to prefer
>them over the Polyphaser, please?
>
>     I have been unable to discover any reasonable way to
>test the Polyphasers to be sure they are still working
>correctly after a storm.


If the device is a simple gap breakdown type device, some sort of 
improvised hi-pot tester might be a way to do it.  Maybe something like an 
auto ignition coil running off a lower than normal voltage, or a small 
current limited HV transformer (like an oil burner ignition transformer or 
neon sign transformer).  Either way, you'd want to limit the discharge 
energy in your tester.

You could verify that the device breaks down at the voltage it's supposed 
to, and that it doesn't break down when it's not supposed to.


And, if the transient suppression device has a wear out mechanism (like 
TranZorbs or various zinc oxide based TVSes) you'd not want to go too wild 
with the tester.



>     Is there a simple and reliable test one may apply
>to the ICE devices?