Choosing Lightning Arresters (

[@Bob-cx4ze]

"You don't want lightning in the house" That's the most understated way I think that's ever been said before.

[@redinator9896]

I bought some Gas dsc tubes not long ago and enclosures to make my own. Haven't got it done yet! Your channel is sure a blessing, Dave!

[@Subgunman]

I use Locktite LB 8008 anti seize copper bearing compound to eliminate any seizure of fasteners. Never had an issue and I live 1/2 mile from the ocean. As for lightning protection of twin lead feed lines I found an article in either QST or CQ magazine years ago where one can purchase Accell non resistor spark plugs for racing as well as some anti fouling cups for these spark plugs. Basically bore out two openings into the copper bar and fasten the spark plugs to the bar with the anti fouling cups ( it is a lot cheaper than ordering a tap for spark plugs from an industrial supplier.) now after you connect the twin lead to the spark plugs and then feed through straight to your tuner in the shack. You will need to adjust the spark gap so the transmitter will not arc over to ground at your maximum favorite working power. Once this is done and no arcing is visible through the bottom of the anti fouling cups you can seal the openings with RTV silicone just enough to cover the opening. You do not want mud dauber wasps building nests in the openings which might short out the spark gaps to ground. The bar must be mounted directly to a decent ground rod.

[@annarademacher8359]

You answered several questions I had about Lightning Arresters --- now when I go to one of the local elmer's for details to help with my setup, I'll have a base of knowledge to start with. Thank you.

[@pfmcdermott1]

Thank you for the video! As a new ham I appreciate that you recommend some specific products both in your videos and reference station. I understand you’re not saying that’s what everyone should have but for me needing a place to start the hobby, it’s nice to have specific items recommended that I know will work well in a first system. Thank you!

[@davecasler]

Glad it was helpful!

[@afnDavid]

Ground conductivity. I live in Florida. The ground conductivity is very poor here as it is mostly sand. It was recommended that I install an _array_ of ground rods. So what I did was install about 20 copper clad rods each 8 feet long in a grid. each spaced abt 10 feet apart. Then use 6 ga cooper to bond em all together. With what I call a _grounding_ _station_ outside the shack,.

[@davecasler]

Good idea! You can also create a large copper grid and bury it in the sand.

[@ekbanjosworld4926]

Love your channel ! The reference equipment is awesome ! I'm trying to setup my shack. This is an expensive hobby, even buying used equipment ! Last month I spent a bunch for coaxial cables, connectors and adapters. Plus one of the MFJ window pass throughs. I still have to get my ground system set up and lightning arresters. I have not yet picked my home base unit. I have a couple of mobile 2m and an HT. I also bought a 817 for QRP in the field. What suggestions do you have for one of the really nice radios that everyone is dumping for the 7300 ? Thanks Curtis

[@lavenderlilacproductions]

Watching some of the back catalog prior to hanging a new antenna. I picked up some useful things. Thanks Dave. Hope you are doing well.

[@mikeoswald8053]

Dave, back in February I had set the new HF antenna and its coax from the ground rods to shack grounds as per your directions, including DX arresters. Two days ago a cold front moved through the area, and while we didn't have a lightning strike at the antenna or within a block of us, the arrester that protected the HF at the ground "popped" as designed. The gear is safe. Thanks for that! AA7MO

[@Etherionix]

CAUTION: Flash tube suppression is NOT compatible with non-resonant (high SWR) antennas like doublets, popular 43’ verticals, etc., as the high voltages can cause the tube to arc (and possibly damage transmitter finals).. An antenna “tuner” will not mitigate this phenomenon as it does not reduce high SWR on the antenna side of the antenna system. Flash tube suppressors, when not used with a parallel inductor, will quickly fail after several suppression events. Morgan Manufacturing (formerly ICE, Industrial Communion Engineers) has, in my opinion, a superior product that eliminates flash tube “fatigue/failure”.

[@doccpu7]

Excellent comment. if the suppressor is between a tuner and an antenna it could be high voltage. I always put a suppressor on the line between the radio and the tuner. At 50 ohm the max voltage at 100w is about or 70v on a 50ohm load. But at 1000 w its about 223v so a 230v suppressor may work. But after a tuner the voltage can be in the thousands. You light up the suppressors more than you get out on the antennas till they burn up and possibly short out.

[@davidwilliams5567]

Once again, you have brought forth great information for this aspiring ham. Well done.

[@franciscoherrera-hernandez]

Muy buenos consejos. Los tomaré en cuenta para instalar mi antena y radio. Gracias Dave. Saludos desde Costa Rica. 73 de TI2FRN

[@mattikankaanpera1979]

Thanks for explaining those lightning arresters, summer is coming and I need to do something before that , no ham but same problem anyway. 73' from Finland.

[@davecasler]

No problem. I noticed your icon is a pipe organ. Are you an organist? I had to stop playing the organ because my finger shake too much now. I miss it. 73 from Dave

[@coreystone5072]

Any thoughts on the Diamond brand lightning arresters? Thank you for all of videos they are an amazing resource.

[@AdamWarrix]

I have the Diamond ones. They work well. I mostly use it as an RF ground.

[@jamess1787]

If it's diamond as in the antenna company: it's probably good.

[@dennissmith7219]

KF7P has arrestors made by Morgan Manufacturing. Very impressive stats on them.

[@lizzyfan1986]

I use them...top notch

[@Calico5string1962]

I also use the Morgan Mfg. arrestors. Excellent pieces. As a great additional benefit, tbe Morgan arrestors also provide continuous static bleed, which (I believe) the other units depicted here do not.

[@lizzyfan1986]

@@Calico5string1962 correct

[@kg5bjf709]

Thank you. As always, I appreciate your tutelage.

[@n3roc]

We’ve been having Frequent lightning storms in the evening, but the lightning always seems to be distant, until last week. Wow! Lightning struck a power pole about 100 feet way. Loud as heck! Scared the crap out of me! It appears close lightning strikes in my area are unusual, but every few years, boom!

[@Subgunman]

And those strikes can induce surges into your homes electrical system either directly through the power lines or as an EMP pulse induced in your homes wiring which acts as an antenna.

[@tekspeditionplanet9109]

Dave, great video. I've watched this one several times. Question: is there a benefit to having a DC-block arrestor? Seems there are more DC-block arrestors on the market. I use Alpa Deltas because I power tower-mounted pre-amps through a bias T, but wondering if I'm missing something not having a DC-block arrestor. Thanks Dave!

[@dougearnest7590]

I did a search for "this type of a situation" and couldn't find anything resembling the picture at 7:15. Does it have another name? I didn't see anything on it in the reference station info on the web site either. Anyone? Anyone?

[@Verbose44]

Array Solutions Control Line Surge Suppressor

[@EddieVfgi]

I live in central Florida, I have the Alpha Delta UHF Connector Coaxial Cable Surge Protectors ATT3G50UHP and the ARRAY SOLUTIONS AS-302U - 3 kW CW / 5 kW PEP Coaxial Lightning Arrestor, SO-239 type connectors, 1 to 500 MHz With all the lightning strikes we get close to our houses I have found that the ARRAY SOLUTIONS outperforms others I also have a PolyPhaser Coaxial Lightning Protectors IS-50UX-C0 for our CERT radio, it is good but the ARRAY SOLUTIONS out performs them all just my 2 cents Eddie kj4fgi

[@johnbauman4005]

Edward, I appreciate your comment and experience. Can you provide specifics as to how the Array Solutions arrester(s) were superior to the others? Did they prevent equipment damage while others resulted in damaged equipment during the same strike? Thanks! 73, John - KK7JBZ

[@montybates5176]

Good information to know for sure!

[@dallast21]

Thank you. Question, please. I purchased another brand before viewing your lightning instructions and recommendation. I know where and how to connect the ground wire, but I don't know what the large screw port is on the other side. Please advise me. With respect, Dallas KJ4VJL

[@MichiganMaker]

Hi Dave. Thanks for another great video. I'm setting up my first shack and find this information very helpful. Why would one not go directly for the 2000Watt high power model of the Alpha Delta right out of the gate? They are the same price. Seems like a good way to future proof. What am I missing? W8ROG

[@sleeve8651]

Corruption or corrosion ? 10:02 🤔.....?

[@glennleslie6127]

Thank you!

[@k8drtqrp]

I just ordered an entrance box a a few of the Alpha Deltas from DX Engineering last week. I now have a permanent shack location in the house.

[@doccpu7]

Beware beware beware. Got a few so called lightning arrestors that had no gas tubes inside just a couple small screws on the sides. No protection at all. Got ones with flush screws and some labeled 230v with big bulging screws. Tested them with a 0-230v supply with a 20k protection resistor. Big surprise. The flush screw ones were 230v rather than 90v advertised so checked the tubes. Yep 2r230's. Some sold at 90v had 230v tubes. The ones with big screws have double ended gas tubes rated at 230v but the tubes are meant for a center ground so 460v end to end. Bad news for most radios. So far only 1 of 8 have had what they were sold as. Beware the big bulging screw ones and check the small inset screw ones.

[@OneOffization]

If my shack is on the 2nd floor of my house, where do you recommend placing the lightning arrester?

[@paul.alarner6410]

heres a question for you,why are pl-259 connectors called uhf,when they get bad at vhf and shit at uhf??.

[@beekeeper8474]

Hey man you can't bring up the nice little box for the rotator! I need more info I'm putting up one hopefully soon. City is giving me hell

[@John-lz3hf]

Two and half years later, these parts went from $52 to $80 thanks to the money printer going brrrrr. Cheaper if priced in Bitcoin.

[@davecasler]

Yep. Once inflation happens, there's no resulting deflation. Rather a steadying of prices. Eventually wages creep up. As a "retiree," I certainly feel the inflation.

[@sleeve8651]

I'm surprised that Alpha Delta uses dissimilar metals, especially with something that will be exposed to the elements ! As it can lead to galvanic corrosion !

[@timbacchus]

Guess there is no way to protect outside at the antenna, antenna tuners from lightning.

[@jamess1787]

Ground everything outside as Dave indicated in his last grounding video. The arrestor is to try and protect your inside gear and people inside your house by allowing the high voltage on the center conductor to be easily able to shunt it to ground. No protecting a chunk of metal from a direct strike (except with a sacrificial lightning rod).... But even then, 20kV is 20kV regardless if it's - or + (ie: if lightning hits the ground or neutral or your transmitter things will go pop)

[@Subgunman]

@@jamess1787your best bet is to disconnect all equipment when it is not in use and during an approaching storm. If you leave for any reason disconnect it all. It would be best if you have an outdoor junction box with all of the lightning protection devices in it. That is the best place to disconnect all feedlines going into the home or shack as well as disconnecting the equipment from power and antennas. You should also disconnect any serial or USB connectors between equipment and computers. The Gentleman who owns DX Commander in The UK suffered a strike on his antenna. Least to say a lot of his equipment was fried including equipment interconnected via USB lines. He even had a few pieces rendered useless that were in boxes away from the ham gear in the opposite end of the room. Quite obviously destroyed by the high current pulse induced by the bolt of lightning.

[@jamescady723]

Thank, you Dave. 73 N8JVC

[@jaysunkreuze1466]

What about for mobile equipment in vehicles? And no, they are not lightening proof by default.

[@ko4nmt]

Thanks for the helpful info Dave... Much appreciated. 73 KO4NMT

[@redf7209]

If all of a sudden it blows i wouldnt take the advice to go and run out to see what happened. It might still be dangerous out there!

[@rimasmeleshyus9486]

Nece to know ,beautiful

[@johnbauman4005]

Your generosity with time and talent is much appreciated. Subscribed! 73 KK7JBZ

[@sleeve8651]

Dave I hate to be argumentative, but from my research, the ratings of these devices has nothing to do with discharge voltages as stated ! Instead, they are different in how much RF power they will handle from the Transmitter ! I checked more than one source, and this was my finding . I plan on contacting Alpha Delta, to get the correct answer. With the operation of these being, " Mission Critical ", I didn't want people purchasing these wondering why they were blowing them up, each time they used an Amplifier ? 🫲🧐🫴 Please advise !