Lightning protection and attenuation HELP

[rayveedub]

I finally figured out how to mount my antenna 20 ft. up but now there are 2 problems. How do i protect my equipment from lightning and how to keep the signal strong from my roof to the scanners themselves. so far ive been told to intall arrestor but that is expensive and more importantly causes attenuation. so i was thinking to install that and add some form of repeater or signal amp if there is something good on the market. i will probably also ground the mast as well but even in that case ive been told that i will need the arrestor. are thaere any other products or homegrown remedies for this? please help im soo close to getting this thing done.

 

[crayon]

.. how to keep the signal strong from my roof to the scanners themselves.

Use LMR-400 for your cabling.

You can buy it in a spool so you can put your own connectors on the end or you can buy it with the connectors already attached.

Plan on spending upwards a dollar a foot for it.

 

[nd5y]

You want to learn about lightning protection?

http://www.allteccorp.com
http://www.harger.com
http://www.polyphaser.com
http://www.lightningsafety.com
http://lightning-protection-institute.com

Tom

 

[whitesamcat]

Where I live (Fla panhandle) lightning is a very real problem. I did quite a bit of research on it also. Here are some links you may find useful:

http://www.arraysolutions.com/Products/thorshammer.htm#top of page

http://www.arraysolutions.com/Products/ice/10.html

You might want to check out their model 306N here:

http://www.arraysolutions.com/Products/ice/impulse1.html#1

And no I do not work for the company, I just thought they had a good product and bought one.

As far as attenuation goes, I don't think that the magnetic coupling they use attenuates the signal much if at all. Of course the connectors will loose a little signal, but this will be the case for all arrestors.

As for the cost, well consider the investment you have already in radio(s), antenna, mast, cable, etc. A little more for some peace of mind is worth it I think.

Also, don't forget plain old common sense. Never attach an outside antenna to your radio in a thunderstorm. Keep all outside antennas disconnected when not in use. (I like to put the end in a glass jar or ceramic mug. Kraft jelly jars work good for me.)

If I sound a little paranoid here it is because my house was hit by lightning a few years ago. Blew 5 bricks out of the NW exterior corner of the house and I lost my computer's sound card and a casette recorder I had connected to it. Happened about 8AM, so nothing was turned on, I was at work. But my wife said it shook the house!

Good Luck, Sam

 

[N_Jay]

If you are paranoid you sould disconnect the antenna from the radio and connect the cable to a grounded connector, not leave it hanging or in a "jar".

 

[K5MAR]

I love it when people say they put their connectors in a jar during a lightning event. Have they ever considered what would happen to that jar if a fifty gazillion volt lightning discharge occurred inside it? Can you say lethal shrapnel? :lol:

Mark S.

 

[KC4ZEX]

Several years ago I took the coax loose from back of a CB base and laid it at the bottom of a window before a thunderstorm. Lightining struck, it burned out a AC outlet about three ft from the window and where the connector was laying it blew a hole in the window the size of a quarter. If it had been in a jar their would have been small pieces of glass everywhere. After that i always grounded connectors to an outside ground wire.

 

[rayveedub]

so if i get the arrestor on and have it grounded, how safe is it to listen during a lightning storm?

 

[flyingwolf]

About as safe as anyone is holding onto a device connected to a large metal highly conductive rod in the middle of an electrical storm.

In other words not a smart idea. The arrestor wil lonly curtail an indirect strike. Please remember that lightning is varying in intensity from bolt to bolt.
While that arrestor may stop an indirect strike a direct hit (along with not only the electrical surge but also extreme pressure levels) will most likey run through your house and equipment like a freight train.

Even things that normally would not be considered conductive will easily conduct electricity when enough current is applied.