Yes but lightning starts off as a static build up and that pole will allow static to accumulate fairly well especially once it gets wet from the first rainfall not to mention the electrically conductive coax cable running up it.
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Grounding a base antenna?? Lightning
- Thread starter hammer0630
- Start date
Yes but lightning starts off as a static build up and that pole will allow static to accumulate fairly well especially once it gets wet from the first rainfall not to mention the electrically conductive coax cable running up it.
Very true, but the wooden pole is still not as conductive as a metal pole or tower. Also it seems like the strongest lightning precedes the rain (at least here anyway). Besides, the static buildup in a run of coax will be miniscule compared to the buildup in a metal tower. Like you said earlier, if lightning wants to strike something, you can't stop it. But you don't have to give it a written invitation.
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Your situation is a little different than most. The guys that I worry about are the ones that have coax running into their home and refuse the ground an antenna because they think it attracts lightning. One in particular won't ever disconnect his equipment and will talk right through a storm.
I know one guy that got hit and even though his radios were disconnected and survived the lightning jumped from the coax to some electrical wiring where it passed through the wall. Fried a lot of his other electronics. The imax 2000 was a pile of splinters. If the tower and coax were grounded properly I think the damage to other electronics in his home could have been reduced.
Very interesting thread. i thought i was good but have to rethink my thinking. Oh boy. My a99 is mounted to a steel mast thats attached to a steel fencepost. I ran my coax down through the pipe and out the bottom of the pipe. The fencepost is in poured concrete about 2 feet or so below grade. Its just a temporary setup untill i put up my tower. Do you think i need more grounding?
mine is miunted about the same.steel T post 6 ft long driven in the ground with 2 ft out of ground.steel pipe connected to the t post used grinder n made shiny contac points used silver contac grease then up to antenna same shiny connection used the silver conection grease too up there.i unscrew my 259 n put it in a gallon glass jar anytime im gone or think a electric storm is coming
One thing you really need to be sure of is that ALL of your connections are hard crimped to the point that the wire should break before it comes out of the connector.(military specifications)
Using solder is risky. Silver solder will melt just like tin lead solder when hit with the electrical load from lightning. We use to crimp them with a hydraulic crimping tool.
We did not solder them because of the copper would be annealed(Softened) from the heat.
Using solder is risky. Silver solder will melt just like tin lead solder when hit with the electrical load from lightning. We use to crimp them with a hydraulic crimping tool.
We did not solder them because of the copper would be annealed(Softened) from the heat.