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Author Topic: Give your lightening strike story and what was your grounding like.  (Read 458 times)

N2RRA

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LIGHTENING

The dreaded topic of a lightening strike comes up every so often. Just came across one myself in a QSO on 160m that was so different than the rest I’ve heard about over the decades. In general discussions where OM’s, or YL’s stories weren’t quite clear over weather it was direct, or a near by strike their story doesn’t go too much further than what was damaged and the aftermath. Which brings me to the next topic and questions. 

Station Grounding

This is for ONLY those operators who have been hit by lightening. Please describe in all honesty what your station grounds consisted of from your antennas to your radio station. Were your grounds flat copper, or flat braided straps, electrical THHN conductors and what size gauge, diameter and length of ground rods at the antenna and station including weather you cad welded, crimped, soldered, or crimped and soldered your ground terminating points? Did you use copper bus bars, or copper plumbing pipe for terminations? Did you use any particular brand lightening arrestors and did they work?

We don’t need, or speaking for myself I don’t need to read theorized opinions on lightening strikes and grounding. I’ve read and have enough experience in the field in grounding. Experience is worth a million theoretical words over opinions on how one should ground by those who say “I’m an engineer and I’ve written books on grounding”, but NEVER been hit by lightening. A persons story on being hit by lightening and what their station grounds consisted of may tell us a bit more over do’s and don’ts on station grounds and even then no matter how much we try to build an effective station ground the reality is we can’t emulate what commercial broadcast stations are building that helps them survive a hit. We can only try our best and as much as our pockets can afford to reduce the effects of a hit to what ever degree we possibly can.

Can’t wait to hear from those of you who are willing to share your experiences.

73,

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K1VSK

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Re: Give your lightening strike story and what was your grounding like.
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2021, 08:42:58 AM »

Books have been written which cover the subject. I doubt a few anecdotal stories will help but it’s fun reading them. The first thing to learn about it is how to spell lightning.
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K1VSK

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Re: Give your lightening strike story and what was your grounding like.
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2021, 09:12:28 AM »

To add to my comment and be constructive here, you would be better served asking on any of a number of sailboat forums. They/we have far more experience in protection and grounding than most land hams have and the methods used are easily transferable.
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WA6BJH

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Re: Give your lightening strike story and what was your grounding like.
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2021, 09:19:52 AM »

Amen to the spelling.
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N2RRA

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Re: Give your lightening strike story and what was your grounding like.
« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2021, 09:42:03 AM »

Books have been written which cover the subject. I doubt a few anecdotal stories will help but it’s fun reading them. The first thing to learn about it is how to spell lightning.

And here we go with spelling police and narcissists. There has been NOTHING constructive on anything you just commented on along with your jump on the band wagon peanut gallery. I just specifically made very clear in plain English what responses we’re looking for so this topic can be constructive and productive, but I guess you can’t comprehend plain English.

Maybe what you should learn is be more careful what you say, because you may come  across that person your insulting that’ll slap the piss out of you if you cross them in person. Then again, what we’ve learned is you haven’t come across that person yet cause you wouldn’t be so free to go insulting people for a minor over looked mistake. You probably have a lot to say about why I’m being so direct and presumably a bit violent, or maybe upset. I’m not,  ;). Just merely saying. You dish out sarcasm and rudeness your gonna get it right back and rightfully so.

So now we know who the disrespectful idiots are. The hobby is supposed to encourage and help those who want to enjoy amateur radio. Not be a moron insulting people over what’s clear is a mistake and making yourself sound like you have anything intelligent to say. Of course they have books on the subject. That’s not what I’m asking for.

Why does this hobby have to deal with as#%^+#s like you guys? 🤦🏼‍♂️
« Last Edit: April 17, 2021, 09:48:28 AM by N2RRA »
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N2RRA

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Re: Give your lightening strike story and what was your grounding like.
« Reply #5 on: April 17, 2021, 09:52:07 AM »

LIGHTENING

The dreaded topic of a lightening strike comes up every so often. Just came across one myself in a QSO on 160m that was so different than the rest I’ve heard about over the decades. In general discussions where OM’s, or YL’s stories weren’t quite clear over weather it was direct, or a near by strike their story doesn’t go too much further than what was damaged and the aftermath. Which brings me to the next topic and questions. 

Station Grounding

This is for ONLY those operators who have been hit by lightening. Please describe in all honesty what your station grounds consisted of from your antennas to your radio station. Were your grounds flat copper, or flat braided straps, electrical THHN conductors and what size gauge, diameter and length of ground rods at the antenna and station including weather you cad welded, crimped, soldered, or crimped and soldered your ground terminating points? Did you use copper bus bars, or copper plumbing pipe for terminations? Did you use any particular brand lightening arrestors and did they work?

We don’t need, or speaking for myself I don’t need to read theorized opinions on lightening strikes and grounding. I’ve read and have enough experience in the field in grounding. Experience is worth a million theoretical words over opinions on how one should ground by those who say “I’m an engineer and I’ve written books on grounding”, but NEVER been hit by lightening. A persons story on being hit by lightening and what their station grounds consisted of may tell us a bit more over do’s and don’ts on station grounds and even then no matter how much we try to build an effective station ground the reality is we can’t emulate what commercial broadcast stations are building that helps them survive a hit. We can only try our best and as much as our pockets can afford to reduce the effects of a hit to what ever degree we possibly can.

Can’t wait to hear from those of you who are willing to share your experiences.

73,

SO LETS TRY THIS AGAIN FOR THOSE WHO CAN’T COMPREHEND PLAIN ENGLISH

Let’s hear from those who have actually been hit by lightning. To be specifically clear let’s keep it on land and not at sea on a boat.

Thanks guys!
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W9IQ

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Re: Give your lightening strike story and what was your grounding like.
« Reply #6 on: April 17, 2021, 09:57:16 AM »

Do you want to hear my lightning strike story on my ranch?

- Glenn W9IQ
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

K1VSK

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Re: Give your lightening strike story and what was your grounding like.
« Reply #7 on: April 17, 2021, 10:02:28 AM »

Books have been written which cover the subject. I doubt a few anecdotal stories will help but it’s fun reading them. The first thing to learn about it is how to spell lightning.

And here we go with spelling police and narcissists. There has been NOTHING constructive on anything you just commented on along with your jump on the band wagon peanut gallery. I just specifically made very clear in plain English what responses we’re looking for so this topic can be constructive and productive, but I guess you can’t comprehend plain English.

Maybe what you should learn is be more careful what you say, because you may come  across that person your insulting that’ll slap the piss out of you if you cross them in person. Then again, what we’ve learned is you haven’t come across that person yet cause you wouldn’t be so free to go insulting people for a minor over looked mistake. You probably have a lot to say about why I’m being so direct and presumably a bit violent, or maybe upset. I’m not,  ;). Just merely saying. You dish out sarcasm and rudeness your gonna get it right back and rightfully so.

So now we know who the disrespectful idiots are. The hobby is supposed to encourage and help those who want to enjoy amateur radio. Not be a moron insulting people over what’s clear is a mistake and making yourself sound like you have anything intelligent to say. Of course they have books on the subject. That’s not what I’m asking for.

Why does this hobby have to deal with as#%^+#s like you guys? 🤦🏼‍♂️
Guess I pushed your flower sensitivity button, tantrum resulting from an answer you didn’t approve. Adorable!
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N2RRA

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Re: Give your lightening strike story and what was your grounding like.
« Reply #8 on: April 17, 2021, 10:03:12 AM »

Do you want to hear my lightning strike story on my ranch?

- Glenn W9IQ

If you’re offering an invite I’m there, but you’re not about that. If you like, you can tell me in NY being you wanna tell it to me so bad.
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N2RRA

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Re: Give your lightening strike story and what was your grounding like.
« Reply #9 on: April 17, 2021, 10:12:38 AM »

Books have been written which cover the subject. I doubt a few anecdotal stories will help but it’s fun reading them. The first thing to learn about it is how to spell lightning.

And here we go with spelling police and narcissists. There has been NOTHING constructive on anything you just commented on along with your jump on the band wagon peanut gallery. I just specifically made very clear in plain English what responses we’re looking for so this topic can be constructive and productive, but I guess you can’t comprehend plain English.

Maybe what you should learn is be more careful what you say, because you may come  across that person your insulting that’ll slap the piss out of you if you cross them in person. Then again, what we’ve learned is you haven’t come across that person yet cause you wouldn’t be so free to go insulting people for a minor over looked mistake. You probably have a lot to say about why I’m being so direct and presumably a bit violent, or maybe upset. I’m not,  ;). Just merely saying. You dish out sarcasm and rudeness your gonna get it right back and rightfully so.

So now we know who the disrespectful idiots are. The hobby is supposed to encourage and help those who want to enjoy amateur radio. Not be a moron insulting people over what’s clear is a mistake and making yourself sound like you have anything intelligent to say. Of course they have books on the subject. That’s not what I’m asking for.

Why does this hobby have to deal with as#%^+#s like you guys? 🤦🏼‍♂️
Guess I pushed your flower sensitivity button, tantrum resulting from an answer you didn’t approve. Adorable!

 ;) Actually you didn’t.

What I don’t understand is what’s so hard to comprehend on these forums each and every time? These forums are to help one another, but you always get these narcissistic guys who feel the need to have to show boat their presumably higher IQ than all others.

For example, you referring to books on the subject when I specifically mentioned not to refer to books in your response. This wasn’t about referencing lightning from books. This was supposed to be about people sharing their experiences.

Second, you referenced supposedly getting better information from boaters. That makes absolutely no sense what so ever when you have an ocean with the greatest level of conductivity versus someone who does not on land. Every situation presented is going to have a vast amount of differences to a vast amount of locations and situations.

This is merely just a couple of reasons for this post. This wasn’t a post about IQ levels, spelling, or who is bigger and badder. Just ridiculous!

So am I still so far off base, or am I making myself clear enough now?
« Last Edit: April 17, 2021, 10:24:44 AM by N2RRA »
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W9IQ

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Re: Give your lightening strike story and what was your grounding like.
« Reply #10 on: April 17, 2021, 10:52:29 AM »

Do you want to hear my lightning strike story on my ranch?

- Glenn W9IQ

If you’re offering an invite I’m there, but you’re not about that. If you like, you can tell me in NY being you wanna tell it to me so bad.

Good luck with your quest.

- Glenn W9IQ
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

W0CKI

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Re: Give your lightening strike story and what was your grounding like.
« Reply #11 on: April 17, 2021, 11:13:51 AM »

Here's a real story. My station in Las Vegas was hit twice by passive strikes of lightning. Took out the finals on my FT1000MP. Poor grounding at that QTH. Moved to Colorado where I have installed an excellent ground including lightning arrestors. Lots of lightning here and after 13 years here, no issues. Now, how can that be helpful to you?
Regards, Gary W0CKI, since 1954
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WY4J

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Re: Give your lightening strike story and what was your grounding like.
« Reply #12 on: April 17, 2021, 12:08:29 PM »

K1VSK seems to be a  grumpy 73 year old man. At his advanced age he should not be picking too many fights or pissing anyone off unless he is ready to offer his deepest apologies  right before he gets slapped around.
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W9IQ

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Re: Give your lightening strike story and what was your grounding like.
« Reply #13 on: April 17, 2021, 12:21:36 PM »

Now here is a thread worthy of locking.

- Glenn W9IQ

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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

N2RRA

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Re: Give your lightening strike story and what was your grounding like.
« Reply #14 on: April 17, 2021, 12:41:12 PM »

Now here is a thread worthy of locking.

- Glenn W9IQ

Only worthy cause of people like yourself needlessly.

That’s what happens when you think your IQ is higher, but only shows it’s not.
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