Fast changing weather patterns have entered the area and KDX, located in the center of North America, where the Missouri River confluences with the Mississippi River, is being rained on.
Fast changing weather patterns have entered the area and KDX, located in the center of North America, where the Missouri River confluences with the Mississippi River, is being rained on.
Prior to the rain sharp static discharges cut through our AM signals, but the rain seems to have subdued the static. Woops, there was one, the thunder is arriving.
For a few moments there was a red tornado warning on the weather service map just northwest of here, but that threat has been removed by the weather service.
As on duty operator I am responsible to make the decision whether to remain on air or cut power.
Lightning and wind can cause fatal damage to electronic equipment, computers and transmitters foremost.
KDX is not a public service disaster station serving the public. We are part of the public, and shut down entirely when threatening conditions arise.
Although during the time I have been typing conditions seem to have become steady with light rain, all that could be swept away in a moment by one lightning strike or wind storm.
If we survive, we will give an outcome.
New Concerns
With the task of rebuilding KMLD, I have to consider many things, including the issue of lightning.
Since there is now a 25 foot tall “quick set” mast supporting the dipole antenna being used to transmit 15 watts on 94.5Mhz, it can present a potential for attracting static charges and lightning strikes.
The current location of the quick-set mast is near my Part 15 AM 3 meter antenna system, which has an 8 foot ground rod at the base. It is about 6 feet away from the quick set mast, which is constructed of aluminum, quite light overall, but very sturdy when the sections are fully extended and locked.
I have already ran #4 AWG solid copper wire from the 3 meter AM antenna ground rod over to the quick set base and made an electrical connection by drilling a hole through the base plate and using a bolt and nut to secure the ground wire.
When the new 5/8 wave ground plane antenna arrives, which includes a grounding connection, a #4 AWG solid copper ground wire will be run down the inside of the mast along with the RG 214 coax, and make the connection and path for any static buildup to discharge through, or lightning strike.
I hope to have the new antenna early next week, and complete the antenna system before the weather really starts to get cold here. It’s no fun working on antennas in bone chilling 10* or lower temperatures with wind chills knocking that even further down below -10*!!
RFB
Carl, your station is irreplaceable
Carl, I think if it looks bad, you should
shut down.
You don’t want to damage all of that
great gear, and you don’t want to
lose your computers, which contain
all of that programming.
It will also give you time to do some
things you wouldn’t normally do.
What, I don’t know.
But you don’t want to lose any of KDX.
Bruce, 1020 CC
Looked After
Bruce you give me the sense I am looked after, with your good advice.
I was very poised to throw the off switch, but this weather system turned into a steady ran with departing lightning.
I think it’s still raining, but the wind and lightning are calm.
KDX lives on.
Protection
Consider surge suppressors and UPS backups.
However just turning stuff off during a bad storm is not enough.
You should also UNPLUG things from the power sockets as well as disconnect your feed lines if your using any.
I used to tell folks to unplug stuff, from the wall AND the cable coax if they have cable TV service, or disconnect the outdoor antenna feed line.
If the storm is that bad, then unplugging everything will do far more good than simply turning stuff off. Because of today’s microprocessor controlled devices, even when the device is off, there is still power being consumed by the device to work the microprocessor so your remotes work as well as the front panel push buttons.
RFB
Security Planning
Probably every connection point should be equipped with switches for an orderly turn off, easier than unplugging & disconnecting.
YET, is it not true that a very close burst of lightning can destroy ICs simply by strength of the EMF?
We are sitting on egg shells.
What I did here
I used to disconnect all AC plugs
and antenna connections. I would
even throw the ham/SWL wire antenna away from the
house if things were bad.
It turns out that in 21 years of living
in this house, lightning has never ever
come near here, because we are in this
little deep valley, that is about
1000 feet wide.
Still, I guess there’s always a first time.
Bruce, “W60HZ” 1020 AM Carrier Current