Lightning Protection

stoneyman2

Newbie
Joined
Apr 29, 2014
Messages
4
New here, but have had my license for years. I'm no an experienced ham but I can get by. At my last place, I was in a 3 story condo that gave me access to the attic. I built a basic dual band antenna and mounted it in the attic which put the antenna at about 50 feet above ground level. This antenna was pretty much flawless for transmitting and receiving. I have only ever worked 144/440 but this antenna also let me receive local EMS/fire/police and airband with no issue.

I now live in a house that has a small attic that is a lot shorter. I'm trying to put dual band ground plane on the highest ridge of my roof and running rg8 into the garage where my radios are set-up. The radios aren't in the living space, but in the garage. From the antenna to the garage I'm looking at around 60 or less feet of RG8. I live in Central California. I can't remember the last time we thunder or lighting (that I witnessed). I know that it's always a potential risk (and with my luck, we'll get a rare lightning storm the day I install my antenna). I'm not horribly concerned about my equipment, but I want to avoid things like fire risk, shock risk, etc. etc.

I've seem some inline lightning arresting components for outdoor antennas. The garage I'm using has a pretty stout ground rod just outside that I can easily connect to. I know how to attach wire to the ground rod and have basic electrical knowledge but this is an area I don't know too much about and would like to hear any advice and or best practice. Part of me just wants to throw the antenna up and run the line, but I've never done an outdoor set-up, so I'm hoping for your help!
 

cavmedic

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Sep 2, 2012
Messages
849
Location
Pottstown Pa
Best practice is to follow NEC

Advice is to read up on the NEC, the ARRL bonding and grounding, and the numerous articles that are posted in RR about the topic and on the web.
 

mmckenna

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Jul 27, 2005
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Part of me just wants to throw the antenna up and run the line, but I've never done an outdoor set-up, so I'm hoping for your help!

Direct lightning strikes are not your only concern. A nearby strike that doesn't touch your home can still induce a lot of energy into the antenna and coaxial cable. The roof/walls won't protect the antenna/coax from that.

Sure, lots of people ignore grounding and do just fine. Probably the worst scenario for you is that your radios would get destroyed.

If you have a ground rod nearby, and it's an easy cable run, it won't hurt to properly ground things.
 

stoneyman2

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Joined
Apr 29, 2014
Messages
4
Direct lightning strikes are not your only concern. A nearby strike that doesn't touch your home can still induce a lot of energy into the antenna and coaxial cable. The roof/walls won't protect the antenna/coax from that.

Sure, lots of people ignore grounding and do just fine. Probably the worst scenario for you is that your radios would get destroyed.

If you have a ground rod nearby, and it's an easy cable run, it won't hurt to properly ground things.
Thanks. Another reply mentioned the NEC so it looks like I'll be reading this weekend.
 

mmckenna

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looks like I'll be reading this weekend.

If you want to fully put yourself to sleep, read the Motorola R56 document. It's pretty much the communications industry bible for grounding.

The link from mc48 above is an easy to understand guide that may make it easier to wrap your mind around.
 

cavmedic

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Joined
Sep 2, 2012
Messages
849
Location
Pottstown Pa
If you want to fully put yourself to sleep, read the Motorola R56 document. It's pretty much the communications industry bible for grounding.

The link from mc48 above is an easy to understand guide that may make it easier to wrap your mind around.
Definitely do not take the test either
 
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