storm chasing precautions?

[Tracer13]

I'm aware that ham radios should be grounded in the event of possible lightning strike or if the antenna is not in use, but wondering of recommendations for how to ground a portable HT for storm chasing?

I'm just literally reading the first bits on storm chasing so can quite easily say I'm a noob. The idea of storm chasing only just piqued my interest as I'm looking at getting a Yaesu VX-8DR which has an internal barometer and in looking into features on the DR, the practice of storm chasing using the barometer/temp sensor sounded intrigueing.

 

[KD0LDK]

As one myself, I can't say I've ever heard of anybody grounding an HT. If you're needing to ground an HT you should probably be indoors or inside your vehicle. Not to say it hasn't been done though!

As for mobiles, if at all possible purchasing lightning arrestors to put inline with your antennae would be your best bet there along with properly grounded power connections.

If you're looking at getting started in chasing I highly recommend at minimum going to some spotter classes and reading through these guides.
SKYWARN Storm Spotter Guides Online

 

[Tracer13]

Just to clarify that I follow correctly: Is the reason why a HT typically wouldn't be grounded due to the fact that by it being hand-held you pose as having yourself be a fairly likely ground too? Therefore the better option is use within a vehicle/indoors etc. where if lightning was to strike it is going to ground out on the surrounding object?

 

[davedaver1]

I'm not convinced there is a benefit to lightning arrestors in a mobile installation. The purpose of the devices is to shunt lightning-induced high voltage and static surges to ground and in a mobile, there is really no "ground" with regard to lightning. Ground in a vehicle is only relative to the positive battery. As for lightning, the car is floating above ground potential because of the insulating tires.

 

[KD0LDK]

Still learning myself. Would a lightning arrestor protect your radios at all? I'd assume it would from a high voltage strike such as that..

 

[n5ims]

As for lightning, the car is floating above ground potential because of the insulating tires.

Sorry but for the lightning to stike your car, it traveled hundreds (if not thousands) of feed through the air. The few small inches from your tires won't really matter to the lightning. It's not what protects you from lightning in your car. What protection you have is from the effects of the metal exterior of the car acting as a Faraday cage with the current flowing around the exterior. This may help explain this Vehicles and Lightning - National Lightning Safety Institute

To see what may happen when your car is struck by lightning this video may give you some idea. Top Gear - Richard Hammond struck by lightning in car - BBC - YouTube While they use generated electricty, not actual lightning, this was done to control the demo which can't really be done using actual lightning.

As indicated in that article, you should keep yourself well contained within the interior if your car in a lightning storm and avoid direct contact with items that connect with the exterior as much as possible (including as they state your "CB microphones", which would include scanners and ham radios, I'm sure).

 

[LtDoc]

If you're really interested in doing that storm watching I would suggest contacting whatever local agency does, or uses, that sort of thing. Find out what they have or recommend as 'requirements'. It really isn't as simple or 'glamorous'/'exciting' as it may seem, and means a lot of work to do it adequately.
Knowledge of what you are doing, why and how, definitely is required. The National Weather Service has classes about what to look for and how to do that looking. And probably just as, or more important, how to report what you see.
The types and uses of any radios involved in weather watching is so varied that there's no way to say what you will need till you talk to the people/agency doing that weather watching. I'd hold off on the buying till you find out what's commonly used. It's a very safe bet that a typical HT is not going to be adequate in most circumstances.
Have fun.
- 'Doc

 

[grogan]

Storm Spotters protection Hat with optional storm chaser dish.Protection you should never be without.

 

[davedaver1]

LOL - that's a cross between searching for satellite signal and putting foil on rabbit ears!