[IRCA] Lightening & EWE Antenna

[mwdxer@xxxxxxxxx (Patrick Martin)]

Hi everyone,

As many of you know, I have used a EWE antenna since 1981. Living on the
Oregon coast, we very rarely get any lightening. Infact I believe the
OR/WA coast gets less lightening than about anywhere in the country.
Well, we had one lightening storm last night and for us, it was a doozy.
Nothing compared to what most of the country has, but still a strong one
for the coast. Infact KAST-1370 was knocked off the air for several
hours.
   Last night after the storm, I hooked up my antennas back up and I
noticed that the pattern of the EWE seemed really out of wack. So this
afternoon after church, I thought I would check it out. The nulls to the
South were not there. So I hooked up my old signal generator as a
transmitter and set the R8 on 820 khz where I was getting KGNW Seattle
S9+20 DB, no sign of KORC Waltport OR. I could monitor the 820 freq with
a portable out at the site.  So I knew my pattern was really off. So out
I went to the termination point through the neighbors fence, through the
sheep. I checked the control, as I thought maybe the sheep had knocked
it off, but I put it behind some heavy screen, and it looked fine. I
turned the control (2.5K ohm pot) and nothing, no difference, no matter
where I tuned it. I came back in the house and got my Volt Ohm Meter and
out I went again. Cut the wires on the control. I then put the meter
across the terminals and zero ohms. In the process some carbon fell out
of the control. I think most controls are no more than 1/2 watt, maybe
1/4 watt. I guess with all of the lightening flashing around there was
enough electricity in the air to burn out the control. I always have
extras but I only had 5K ohm pots, so that will have to do until I can
find some 2.5K ohm ones. I like those better as the null is not as
sharp, as the control is at 900+ ohms.
But I guess even though there is no direct hit or even a hit close by,
lightening can still do damage. The shortest period of time (that I
heard) between the lightening and thunder was 2-3 seconds. So it wasn't
really overhead. But it was quite the experience. By my EWE is back
working fine again. For the record, I have lived on the coast most of my
life and I have never seen a lightening storm this wild. If there has
been one, we have to back 35 or 40 years probably.

73,

Patrick

Patrick Martin
Seaside  OR
KAVT Reception Manager

_______________________________________________
IRCA mailing list
IRCA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://dallas.hard-core-dx.com/mailman/listinfo/irca

Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers

For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org

To Post a message: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx