Not a problem (Yet) and not exactly a question, nor a praise...just a life event...
I didn't even know it was raining. Dee opened the back door behind me in the den just as a huge rogue lightning strike happened right in my back yard. All power went out all over the neighborhood. Wow! Then I remembered that I still had the antennas connected to all my ham radio equipment. Can a preacher say "Oh crap!?" Well, this one did. I won't know if there is any damage until the power goes back on..... if it hit the tower, it could be major. Here's hoping not....
I didn't even know it was raining. Dee opened the back door behind me in the den just as a huge rogue lightning strike happened right in my back yard. All power went out all over the neighborhood. Wow! Then I remembered that I still had the antennas connected to all my ham radio equipment. Can a preacher say "Oh crap!?" Well, this one did. I won't know if there is any damage until the power goes back on..... if it hit the tower, it could be major. Here's hoping not....
Ken - NM9P, Elmer
Posted 3 years ago
Ken - NM9P, Elmer
UPDATE: Power came back on a few minutes ago. I have tested as much as I can with the storm still in the vicinity. All seems to be OK for the shack computer and rig, as far as I can test it without antennas...
Whew! Close call. Now to test the TV's, DVD Players, etc......
Whew! Close call. Now to test the TV's, DVD Players, etc......
Thank G-d! I am glad for you...de W3DCB Daniel
Ken - NM9P, Elmer
Additional Update: testing this morning and afternoon shows everything working fine. I do, however, have an elevated noise floor on several bands. I don't know if this caused by my lightning arresters, or by power line lightning arresters damaged by the strike, or by general atmospherics. 15 meter noise was at about -115 when it is usually about -125. Similar rises on 20 and 6 meters.
Question: can a lightning strike cause a rig's front end to get noisier, or do I just need to sniff around for RF noise?
Question: can a lightning strike cause a rig's front end to get noisier, or do I just need to sniff around for RF noise?
(Edited)
Sounds similar to my adventure. I don't recall getting hit but notices a rise in the noise floor. Never thought much about it as I recently moved. Also noticed that Antenna 1 and Antenna 2 sounded exactly alike
I ended up sending it in and it turned out the Antenna relays blew. It seemingly worked fine but a few subtle changes turned out to be damage. Took about a week in the shop and 2 - relays but all iof s right again. Their assessment was a near miss from lightening
Mike N9DFD
I ended up sending it in and it turned out the Antenna relays blew. It seemingly worked fine but a few subtle changes turned out to be damage. Took about a week in the shop and 2 - relays but all iof s right again. Their assessment was a near miss from lightening
Mike N9DFD
KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
Ria - N2RJ, Elmer
I will go against the "disconnect" theory. My opinion is that it would make things worse. Ground everything, pray and keep your insurance up to date. We had one strike here and the only
Casualty was the icom pro3's CI-V port.
Casualty was the icom pro3's CI-V port.
Ken - NM9P, Elmer
RGR on the Insurance, Ria!
Completely disconnected, from antenna(s) and power source, I've yet to lose a radio to lightning.
James
WD5GWY
James
WD5GWY
Agree, but disconnect WHERE? If lightning full hit at the antenna tower follows the coax but the disconnect is IN the shack I would think trouble!?!?! Arcing of "1.21 GIGAWATTS!!!" Lol.
Disconnect from radio and move cables far away from radio(s) etc. Lightning entering house regardless of entrance source, is going to do damage. Outside grounding will help, but won't stop a "1.21 Gigawatt" hit on or near your antenna or house wiring. Disconnect and prayer best answer!
Ria - N2RJ, Elmer
The problem is that I have like 10 coaxes to disconnect (low band antennae, RX antenna, vertical, etc) and I am not always home to disconnect. We get pop up thunderstorms here during the spring and summer. I am also not of the opinion that lightning that just traveled a few miles to get to your house is suddenly going to change its mind about the last few feet.
I also stand to lose a lot of $ in hardline and other parts in between the shack and antennas, so better to tell the adjuster that I took all precautions according to R56 and the NEC rather than creating a ground loop.
But that is just me.
I also stand to lose a lot of $ in hardline and other parts in between the shack and antennas, so better to tell the adjuster that I took all precautions according to R56 and the NEC rather than creating a ground loop.
But that is just me.
(Edited)
If I were a preacher and a rogue lightning bolt struck my antenna ... I would certainly get philosophical, and probably change professions! That, or in the least look back at some of my past sermons and see what I could have possibly said to bring forth such hard measures of disagreement!
As a devout atheist .. I run low-hanging wire antennas exclusively!
<grin>
As a devout atheist .. I run low-hanging wire antennas exclusively!
<grin>
(Edited)
Ken - NM9P, Elmer
At least it is a reminder to finish my tower/station grounding project ASAP!
KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
Hi Ken,
Glad to hear everything ok. I live where we do get lightening and I want to try and setup some arresters but have yet to find one that I trust.
Anyone have recommendations?
Howard... I hate to let you know this but as a So. Cal. Pilot for many years flying between SBA and San Dieo and various other places in SD. You do in fact get lightening. Back in the hills behind you they get quite a bit AND recently in OK they measured and confirmed a lightening bolt that measured 199 miles in length so I think your tower could still be at risk. Of course far less than others like Ken but still you are not immune.
Mark
Glad to hear everything ok. I live where we do get lightening and I want to try and setup some arresters but have yet to find one that I trust.
Anyone have recommendations?
Howard... I hate to let you know this but as a So. Cal. Pilot for many years flying between SBA and San Dieo and various other places in SD. You do in fact get lightening. Back in the hills behind you they get quite a bit AND recently in OK they measured and confirmed a lightening bolt that measured 199 miles in length so I think your tower could still be at risk. Of course far less than others like Ken but still you are not immune.
Mark
Ken - NM9P, Elmer
199 miles! That's a big lightning bolt!
KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
@Mark
Like I said, I am tempting the Lightning Gods. But then we would also have to get rain
My tower and antennas are connected 100% of the time for the past 15+ years This is especially true when I am remote like I am now.
I have only heard thunder once in 30 years in San Diego on the coast. Don't know about the mountains behind us.
Like I said, I am tempting the Lightning Gods. But then we would also have to get rain
My tower and antennas are connected 100% of the time for the past 15+ years This is especially true when I am remote like I am now.
I have only heard thunder once in 30 years in San Diego on the coast. Don't know about the mountains behind us.
After our house taking a nearby lightning strike and loosing nearly every electrical device in our house, I now always disconnect RF, control, and power lines, even though it's a pain. But a lot worse can happen beyond equipment being smoked. A neighbors house recently took a direct lightning strike. Before the fire department got on scene to put the fire out, the house burnt to the ground.
Tim - W4TME, Customer Experience Manager
Ken - NM9P, Elmer
UPDATE: $250 later and my 6500 I'd headed back home. It will be just a little more than a week. Not bad at all for FRS excellent service department.
IC72 and IC-73 ($4) and two hour's labor.
It has been a long dry week without the"Big Kahuna" as the 6500 is affectionately called around here!
I am assuming that the two IC's are the ESD protection arrays.
I will be glad to be back on the air soon!
Ken - NM9P
IC72 and IC-73 ($4) and two hour's labor.
It has been a long dry week without the"Big Kahuna" as the 6500 is affectionately called around here!
I am assuming that the two IC's are the ESD protection arrays.
I will be glad to be back on the air soon!
Ken - NM9P
Tim - W4TME, Customer Experience Manager
My 6700 is named "King Daddy".
Good deal. Glad it was nothing more. Mike
(Edited)
Tim - W4TME, Customer Experience Manager
Yes, the ESD protection ICs designed to be sacrificial during an EMP or static discharge into the radio to protect the SCU did their job very well.
Ken - NM9P, Elmer
Glad they were there! No telling how expensive the repair might have been without them.
Too bad there isn't an internal test routine that displays "You fried it! Front end now unprotected!". When that happens! Ha ha!
Too bad there isn't an internal test routine that displays "You fried it! Front end now unprotected!". When that happens! Ha ha!
I had similar issue they thought caused by. Lightening and it toook out the antenna relays. About the same price to repair and very quick
Mike
Mike
Steve K9ZW, Elmer
Wish the good practice of sacrificial-protector ESD Diodes was more widely used. Wrote off much gear back when back-feed on the power line from a neighbor's tree 75 ft from the service easement being blown up by lightening.
Antenna protection didn't matter in this case, as one side of the 240v service and the ground were super-energized. Looked like an arc-welder had been fired off inside the cases when we opened the gear up.
73
Steve K9ZW
As Ken wrote above, if the symptom of diode damage is an elevated noise floor, is it possible (or could it be) for the radio to tell the owner what has happened? Ken was attentive, but also considered other external possibilities for the elevated noise level.
I'd hate to think I'm listening through damaged diodes and not knowing it.
Worked Ulrich, VP6AH, on Pitcairn today. I was 5x7 with him, while he was 4x4 with me. Don't want to be an Alligator, all mouth and no ears.
73,
Gary W4EEY
I'd hate to think I'm listening through damaged diodes and not knowing it.
Worked Ulrich, VP6AH, on Pitcairn today. I was 5x7 with him, while he was 4x4 with me. Don't want to be an Alligator, all mouth and no ears.
73,
Gary W4EEY
Perhaps the 7300 was performing very well (tongue-in-cheek)
Tim - W4TME, Customer Experience Manager
Gary - there is no way for the radio to inform you that the ESD diode is blown other than having an elevated noise floor that what is usually normal for your QTH.
You could put a signal of known strength into the radio and read the output and if they differ significantly, then I would send the radio in for service.
You could put a signal of known strength into the radio and read the output and if they differ significantly, then I would send the radio in for service.
Thanks Tim!
Gary W4EEY
Gary W4EEY
Tim - W4TME, Customer Experience Manager
I have an Elecraft XG2 that I use for providing a (mostly) known signal level into the radio.
Why mostly Tim?
Doug g4ovr.
Doug g4ovr.
Tim - W4TME, Customer Experience Manager
Because, for the price, it was not designed to be a high precision signal generator. You will have to use it to determine the actual signal level so you have a known quality before you use it to determine the amount of attention.
