Lightening Paranoia.

[novice1234]

Hi. The basic question is if its safer to put an antenna in the attic than have it outdoors?

As a former farmer, I've had too many close encounters. As a novice/general ham, 47 years ago, I wouldn't get next to the rig during a storm, yet nothing happened. Not so true for some ham friends who had towers. Walls blown out, etc.

Getting back into ham radio, I'm thinking about antennas.

I live in a historic stone (limestone/sandstone) building of about 60 x 100 ft. Two stories with a large wood frame attic. Enough room for a tunable dipole, etc. Its cupola was hit by lightening years ago and destroyed.

I think about just running a random length wire from the first floor, just 10-20 ft. off the ground.

Otherwise, one in the attic with a feedline in the building or running outside along outside of it into an air vent. That would put it up 60 ft.

Good grounding would, of course, be important. (Another thread.)

Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[mmckenna]

You've got a couple of things you need to consider:

Direct lightning strikes
Nearby lightning strikes.

Direct lightning strikes will do damage, although with the right gear, your gear can survive it. Broadcast towers get hit all the time and stay on the air.
Nearby lightning strikes can induce a lot of voltage onto conductors nearby. While you might be able to reduce the chances of a direct strike, there isn't much you can do to prevent the induced voltage on the conductors.

Keep in mind that lightning travels thousands of feet through the air. A building roof isn't going to stop it from finding ground.

 

[Voyager]

Keep in mind that lightning travels thousands of feet through the air. A building roof isn't going to stop it from finding ground.

My thoughts, too.

Put it where you want it with some adequate lightning protection. Polyplaser makes some excellent products you can use. Be sure to install a good ground system, too.

 

[n5ims]

Many believe that a properly grounded and protected outside antenna may help prevent a direct lightning strike by draining the static charges to ground so they don't build up to the point to trigger a strike. It's not a 100% guarantee, but if it helps, it helps, and that's important. This isn't as much for the very tall broadcast towers, since they're the only connection for miles around, but for typical home antennas, they're close enough to other connections (trees, power lines, buildings) that the antenna/tower may help shield a nearby area to some extent.

 

[novice1234]

Lightning Paranois.

Thanks to all for your thoughts. It seems to me that an dipole antenna in the attic, up 60 ft. from the ground, might increase the odds of a strike that could start a fire, as over against a random tuned wire outside a window on the first floor and maybe only 20 ft. off the ground. I'm more concerned about the building and our safety than the equipment. After all, don't church steeples get hit more often than the lower church building? What I'm worried about is an increase in the odds of a strike 60 ft. up in the attic places the antenna parallel to high voltage power line 50 ft. away, whereas the 1st floor antenna would be out and away from them in the middle of the yard. We also have some 60 ft.+ tall trees around. I'd rather be safe than chase better DX.

I also think about some sort of quick disconnect for the lower antenna when a storm is expected.

More thoughts appreciated.