On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 19:53:20 -0600, Barnyard BOb -
wrote:



Amen to that! I had a RG-8 line dripping water on the back of my radio bench
once. Disconnected it from my rig and the damn thing zapped me from the
static charge buildup in the rain & wind.

Rich "I'm feeling much better now, Mom" S.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If your antenna is not at DC ground potential....
expect to get zapped under windy dry conditions.

Amen! It can give you a real appreciation for "snow static" too.
(:-=))

I had my ham rig set up inside a mobile home while we were building
our new home over South of Breckenridge. (bout 38 years ago). When
not in use the coax was disconnected and put in a broom closet in the
kitchen. The other end of that coax tied to a quarter wave, 40 meter
vertical (33 feet tall).

One day it was snowing like crazy with very strong winds. I kept
hearing a loud popping sound and couldn't figure out what it was.
Investigation led me to that broom closet. On opening the door I was
greeted with some very bright blue arcs as the static built tot he
point where it'd flash over the PL-259. Thing is it wasn't just
flashing over, but arching out a half inch to an inch from the end of
the connector. It was doing that every 3 or 4 seconds.

I didn't take hold of it, but that spark was far fatter than any
ignition I've ever seen, be it conventional, or mag. I'll bet it sure
packed a kick! :-)) I left it alone as I had no desire to find out
just how much energy was in that spark.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com


Barnyard - gamma match - BOb