[TowerTalk] Sweet spot locations

[donovanf at starpower.net]

Dave,

Many high power transmitter facilities have optical lightning detectors
that almost instantaneously shut the transmitter down in the event of
a nearby lightning strike or flashover.  The consequences of not shutting down the transmitter can be worse that the lightning strike itself.

Its standard off-the-shelf -- but not inexpensive -- technology.

73
Frank
W3LPL

---- Original message ----
>Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2007 16:43:58 EDT
>From: K6TFZ at aol.com  
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Sweet spot locations  
>To: Dave_Hoaglin at abtassoc.com, towertalk at contesting.com
>
>I missed the extra "n" in lightning vs lighting. 
>Yes, you are right. Now I see how it's done. 
>For some reason, I thought that the transformer
>was a sensor to shut down the tx when the bolt 
>hit but I can see that is impractical. Nothing 
>can react that quickly.
>---------------------------------------
> 
>Isn't it a lighting transformer, to power the lights on the tower?   The gap
>between the primary and secondary windings (both circular) is  substantially
>greater than the gap between the two metal balls, so that  lightning will
>jump the latter gap.
>
>73, Dave  K1HT
>
>
>
>
>************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at 
>http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour
>_______________________________________________
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>TowerTalk mailing list
>TowerTalk at contesting.com
>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk