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Nvdoug
Junior Member
Username: Nvdoug

Post Number: 15
Registered: 2-2009
Posted on Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - 7:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

With the windy conditions here yesterday it reminded me of something that happened last year that puzzled me.
I have a 102"ss whip on a truck of mine. It was hot and real windy, the dust was blowing around like a foggy morning. I kept hearing this tic, tic, tic. sound. I investigated and found it to be a static electric arc/spark between the center of the pl259 plug and the barrel nut ground.
All the years of having an attenna in a vehicle, I have never encountered this before.
What would of happened if I had a radio hooked up at the time??
To alleviate the arc,I grabbed the coax and slid the barrel nut farther down.
Has anyone ever encountered this before? Cause, I was sure puzzled.
Northern Nevada
CEF#1019
Doug
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Tech291
Moderator
Username: Tech291

Post Number: 527
Registered: 11-2004


Posted on Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - 8:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Nvdoug,
something similar.Back in the early 80's I was poking around on top of Blue mountain in N.E.Utah looking for petrified wood and such.It was getting late afternoon and clouds were descending on the mountain top so I decided to go before I got stuck up there for the night.When i got close to the truck,I could here a steady snapping sound.after about 10 minutes searching,I found a spark arching across the insulator of my mirror mount francis.At the time it was connected to a cobra 146 and hme 150 amp.the amp survived but the radio didnt.The arching was regular like clockwork,so dont know if it was from static buildup due to the weather or maybe just being too close(within quarter mile)to the tv repeaters on the mountaintop.




tech291
cef291/cvc6
kc8zpj
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Nvdoug
Junior Member
Username: Nvdoug

Post Number: 16
Registered: 2-2009
Posted on Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - 10:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Tech291,
That is similar! At least I know I'm not alone with this odd occurence. I believe I will play it safe and unplug my radios on real windy & dusty days.
Thanks for the reply
Northern Nevada
CEF#1019
Doug

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