This is your wattmeter on lightning.

[nomadradio]

Late October isn't heavy lightning season in eastern KY, but it only took one loud "CRACK!" for this customer's antenna.

At first glance it appears that only the plastic window is gone from his Dosy TC4002SW, but notice how the top cover is bowed upwards, making the backdrop visible through the gap.

A look from above shows the rear panel bowed outwards, as well.

The rear panel hints at what you'll find inside.

The antenna-selector switch is discombobulated. The SO-239 at the lower-right is the Horizontal socket.

The radio socket popped the center pin out of the socket body. The coax braid that was soldered to bond the coax sockets' grounds to each other is no longer soldered to the inside edge. Looks as if the solder vaporized and blew the braid away from the socket.

Just goes to show that unplugging the coax is the only sure-fire surge preventer.

73

 

[kopcicle]

at the left is a balun. on the right is a balun on 14kv

 

[Dmans]

As the kids used to say-"Knarly"!

73's
David

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Nasty stuff. I remember walking into one of my AM transmitter sites one day on a regular routine maintenance run and smelling the unmistakable smell of brimstone. At first glance the TX looked fine, meter readings were normal and then I opened the front door. At the top of the inner panel was an RF Line Current meter monitoring the power output. It was in a heavy Bakelite case and was completely blackened with little wisps of yellow and whitish-gray indicating severe burning. Lightning had struck the antenna system at some point since my last visit and fortunately it had fused the meter guts rather than blowing open and the TX stayed on the air. It probably tripped the overloads but there was an automatic restoration unit installed so it simply cycled and brought the TX back on the air. Thank God for tubes versus solid state.

 

[517 Leroy]

Mother Nature, radio operators worst nightmare or best friend. I've got at least two locals that have lost equipment from lightning. I've seen arrestors for sale for coax and power cords. I'm a unplugger, posts like this should teach the novice operators to religiously unplug. Thanks for the info. Merry merry, happy happy! Got down

 

[TheRealPorkchop]

Late October isn't heavy lightning season in eastern KY, but it only took one loud "CRACK!" for this customer's antenna.

At first glance it appears that only the plastic window is gone from his Dosy TC4002SW, but notice how the top cover is bowed upwards, making the backdrop visible through the gap.

A look from above shows the rear panel bowed outwards, as well.

The rear panel hints at what you'll find inside.

The band switch is discombobulated. The SO-239 at the lower-right is the Horizontal socket.

The radio socket popped the center pin out of the socket body. The coax braid that was soldered to bond the coax sockets' grounds to each other is no longer soldered to the inside edge. Looks as if the solder vaporized and blew the braid away from the socket.

Just goes to show that unplugging the coax is the only sure-fire surge preventer.

73

That really is a Doozy. Haha. See what I did there?

 

[Slowmover]

That really is a Doozy. Haha. See what I did there?

And given it’s too early for beer (I hope), well-done.

Lightening. Hammer of Zeus.

.

 

[TheRealPorkchop]

Definitely too early. I don’t drink it anyway, can’t stand the taste. Like the smell. Hate the taste.

Imagine sitting there in front of it and that happening. Bet that’d get your attention.

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

I unplug and short the center conductor to the shield to disapate the static charge. I then hang the end of the coax off the front of the desk so I don't forget to plug it back in.

 

[nomadradio]

Never a good day for a "QSO with the clouds".

73

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Never a good day for a "QSO with the clouds".

73

But they usually come thundering in.

 

[jessejamesdallas]

Soooo....what I want to know, is did you get it fixed?

 

[Robb]

Soooo....what I want to know, is did you get it fixed?

Well, if it wasn't trash before the lightning strike - it is for sure - now.

 

[nomadradio]

Wrote it up as "totaled" for the insurance claim, that's all.

73

 

[unit_399]

September thru early December is the rainy season in Colombia. Usually huge thunderstorms that last several hours every night.

A few weeks ago, we were sitting on the back porch drinking rum and coke when we began to hear loud thunder in the distance. A thunderstorm with much lightning was happening on the other side of the mountains (about 40 kms away.)

Check it out. Must have been one hell of a storm over there.



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