[UK-CONTEST] Lightning strikes

[Mark Marsden]

Hi all

Yesterday (Sunday 24th Oct 5:30 pm) we had a lightning storm and my roof-mounted vertical antenna played its part in discharging a passing cloud. I was standing close by when there was a crack, a bright flash from behind the radio and a loud peal of thunder.

Fortunately the RG213 feeder from the vertical was lying on top of a radiator behind the radios. The PL259 connector arced through the paint to the central heating system & earth.

Luckily the FT1000MP and linear were connected to a dummy load for testing at the time, and were unaffected. There was no other damage so it wasn't a direct strike. 

Do you earth your antennas when they're not in use?


73 Mark G4AXX