WorldwideDX Amateur Radio Forums

I am trying to figure out what to do with my coax when a lightning storm is on the way...other than pulling it back out the window?

I was thinking of something like a block with so-239 connectors on one side and a ground wire connector on the other side....then running the ground wire out the window to a copper ground rod...so when a storm is coming you just take your coax off your radio and screw it onto the ground block until the storm is over.....do they even sell what I am describing ?

It needs to be outside the house. I added a junction box outside the house where I disconnect. If lightning hits and comes in through the coax it will laugh at your ground wire and burn down your house.

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Closet Biker, CB'er and snooty Ham!!
20 wpm Extra

How do you keep the junction box and coax ends from getting all corroded and dirty from being outside?
I need a junction box for 3 coaxes...do you know where I can buy one?

Ok...I understand what you are talking about now...the box is for protecting the connections from the weather.

The whole idea is to prevent lightning from passing through your equipment in the first place. If properly grounded, which granted is an extensive endeavor, you should be able to take a direct strike and suffer no damage whatsoever.Few CBer's or hams get that involved however.

http://members.rennlist.org/warren/grounding.pdf

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As far as enclosures Look for something like this:

Slimline Junction (3 - 17 in. X 3 in. to 9 in. X 6 in.) Overview

Or

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ryId=202043419
There are ones that have doors and Gaskets if you want to open them easily.

http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/...s/Metal/NEMA_4
Just search for Nema 4 enclosures
We used them at work to mount stuff in all the time, lots of sizes available.
I have even put small motor starters in them with SO cord in/out and strain reliefs for temporarily installs if we were doing a test run on something.

73
Jeff

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Radio-active

NASA/SOHO


there is no dark side in the moon, really. As a matter of fact it's all dark

is there any reason why a nice thick tupper-ware container couldn't be used ? not the thin crappy ones . drill holes on one side for the coax to go in and out of and stand it up to mount it so those holes are on the bottom .

I guess anything would work that kept the connectors out of the weather...stick the ends in a plastic pop bottle.

Tupperware?!?
You can probably buy a weatherproof junction box from HomeDepot or Lowe's for about ~$10.
Save your Tupperware - Booty!

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