Hey Dave,

I thought high current loops were the antennas to start fires??? Nice picture.

 

Mike>WE0H

http://www.we0h.us/lf.html

 

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Dave Pick
Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2002 11:14 AM
To: LF Group
Subject: LF: Flaming aerials!

 

Dear all, especially Peter.

 

I had a bit of a problem on 73k today, the TX started tripping during my QSO with G3LDO at about 12:30. Eventually I had to reduce the power to a few hundred Watts to sign off.

I went outside, down the full length of the garden to the ATU to see if anything was wrong. All seemed well but I could hear a "crackling" noise and couldn't figure out where it was coming from. I eventually looked up at the top of the tree where the aerial passed over a perspex "Y" on the top of the pole... It was alight! A couple of years worth of polution must have made it conductive enough for the RF to arc through it to the metal supporting pole (which is earthed). I watched it with trepidation lest any burning pieces should drop off and set light to the tree, luckily this didn't happen and eventually it went out.

I have since replaced the top piece with a new design, let's see how long that lasts!

This sort of thing always happens when I "fire-up" on 73k, the Voltages are just so high..

You can just see the flames on this picture.

 

http://www.wireless.org.uk/images/firesky2.jpg

 

73.

Dave

G3YXM.

 

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