Showing posts with label lightning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lightning. Show all posts

2 Oct 2023

Lightning stops play

Just now, we had a lightning flash and clap of thunder. Judging by the time delay, I would imagine it is 10km south of here. 

Just in case, I have disconnected PCs, PSUs and antennas in the shack. 

If it looks like the risk is going away, I shall probably reconnect things.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=;ts=0; 

18 Aug 2023

Storm tonight? - NOT amateur radio

In East Anglia there is thunder, lightning and heavy rain due overnight. Quite often we miss the worst. Just in case, I have disconnected antennas, PSUs and PCs. Some areas are due to get nearly 2 weeks of rain in just a few hours. Better check the rain gauge tomorrow!

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=;ts=0;z=5;y=49.6529;x=1.597;d=2;dl=2;dc=0; .e

15 Jul 2023

Lightning risks

At the moment in the UK, the lightning seems to be in Wales and the north of England according to the lightning map. Of course, things can change quite quickly. If the risk increases, everything gets disconnected.

5 May 2023

Thunderstorms

We are just having a passing thunder storm. 

Although the chances of a direct strike are low (thankfully) in the UK, passing storms can cause power surges that can damage equipment. 

I am no expert on thunder and lightning, but I know from others that it should always be treated with respect. Whenever there is a risk, I disconnect mains plugs and antennas "just in case". Opinions vary on what to do, but leaving things connected only works if your lightning protection is very good. Most of us have very poor protection.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/lightning-maps .

13 Apr 2023

Why I don't like lightning - NOT amateur radio

My brother just sent me some photos of a lightning strike on a house about 200m from them. My brother has no broadband and the electricity is being provided from a generator supplied by the electricity supplier. 

24 Mar 2023

Lightning

One of the pleasures of UK winter is the usual absence of thunder and lightning. In the UK they can occur, but they are far more common in the summer. 

Although I know the chances of a direct strike are low, they do occur. I know of 2 friends who had this. One of the more common things is a power surge as storms approach.

What I tend to do is keep a watchful eye on approaching storms. If there is any danger, I disconnect everything: antennas, mains plugs etc.. I have no idea if this is the correct strategy. My view is it is better to be safe than sorry.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/lightning-maps .

25 Aug 2022

No operation until at least the afternoon

As we have thunderstorms at the moment and these could last until well after lunch, everything will remain disconnected until all risks have gone. So, no operation until later. 

UPDATE 0945z:   Although it is still raining here (good), the thunder and lightning seem to have passed. If the lightning map confirms this, I may go on later this morning. It appears to confirm the storms have gone.

16 Aug 2022

Storm risks

At the moment, all storm activity seems to the north and missing us. As this can change, I am watching the lightning maps "just in case" things alter. It feels very humid.

UPDATE 1544z:  All the storms seem to be clustered about 60 kilometres north of us. At the moment, this still looks encouraging.

24 Apr 2022

Lightning risks

The chances (in the UK) of being hit by a direct lightning strike are (thankfully) low, but not nil. Many years ago a work colleague in a very ordinary house was struck and he had a lot of damage.

More common issues are power surges of the mains supply when lightning and thunder are nearby.

Perhaps I am paranoid, but if there is a threat of lightning nearby I unplug PSUs from their sockets and disconnect all antennas. If a power surge is around my gear is not going to experience it!

Unless you have a very good grounding systems, it is very unlikely your gear will survive a direct hit.

Now, I am no expert on lightning protection, so please make your own judgements on this by reading expert opinion. DO NOT rely on me!!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/lightning-maps .

14 Feb 2022

Lightning

At this time of year in the UK, lightning is not usually a great risk. In the summer months, although unlikely, lightning can be more of a risk. A direct strike is very rare, but can be devastating.  

More common are surges on power lines when lightning is near. For this reason, I usually disconnect PSUs and antennas if there is lightning in the area. 

Years ago, a colleague at work had his house struck and there was a lot of damage. I keep an eye on lightning maps to see how close storms are.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/lightning-maps .

16 Oct 2021

Lightning

Some call me paranoid about lightning. 

At this time of year in the UK lightning is far less common than in the summer, but I still disconnect antennas and PSUs at night as a precaution. In the daytime I check and disconnect everything if there is a hint of storms. 

OK, the chances of a direct strike are low, but I want to minimise risks. Power surges can be more common.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/lightning-maps .

1 Oct 2021

The most stupid product yet?

I have just received the latest newsletter from a major UK dealer. It included 2 products that seem pointless to me! For over £115 you can have a box that disconnects the antenna. For £190 you can automatically disconnect and ground 2 antennas.  Surely you can just unplug antennas? Am I missing something here?

Sorry, but this seems to be another way for the manufacturer and dealer to make money from gullible people or people with deep pockets. I for one will not be rushing...

13 Jul 2021

Lightning danger

Ever since a friend's very ordinary house was struck by lightning many years ago, I have taken no chances. If a storm is nearby, I disconnect everything. If a storm is near you may want to check the lightning maps.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/lightning-maps .

5 Jul 2021

Lightning

Although we may experience a few showers, it is quite warm outside. The thunder risk looks low with most storms over Denmark. 

I think there is some link between thunder activity and Es, although I have not studied it. I think it has something to do with sprites? There must be people who know far more than yours truly! If you know the link, please leave a comment.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=0.00;ts=0;y=38.0295;x=8.3248;z=4;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;

21 Jun 2021

Storms

Amateur radio gear can be badly affected by nearby storms. Often, when there are storms nearby, there can be damaging power surges. I am always nervous with nearby storms. My normal practice is to disconnect everything until the storms have well passed. At the moment, the immediate risk seems to have passed.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/lightning-maps  .

17 Jun 2021

Lightning

We escaped the storms last night. It rained, but that was all. We missed again last night the storms are creeping up from France and thunderstorms and heavy rain are forecast for tomorrow.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=0.00;ts=0;z=6;y=50.6182;x=0.3762;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;

16 Jun 2021

Storm risks

Maybe I am paranoid over the risk from nearby storms. Everything has been disconnected (PC, PSU, rigs, antennas) to avoid the risk of nearby voltage surges and strikes. If I miss something, does it matter? No.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/lightning-maps .

18 May 2021

Thunder

As a precaution, I have disconnected my mains PSU and PC in my shack. My antenna that is connected to my little 10m FT8 RX is indoors (the tiny loop). There is thunder about. I think it is some way off, but better safe than sorry.

We have hail now at 1607z.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=;ts=0;z=4;y=35.8839;x=5.7931;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;

8 Apr 2019

Lightning

A few moments ago I thought I saw a flash of lightning. I may have been mistaken, but it made me check the UK lightning map.  According to this it is further west and moving away. Taking no chances, everything has been disconnected, at least for the next hour or so. If everything looks OK, I may try 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP) later.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?bo_page=map&bo_showmap=uk&bo_period=0.25&lang=en

2 Apr 2019

Lightning

At this time of year and in the summer, I regularly check on the possibility of nearby storms. If there is a chance of danger, I disconnect antennas and power sockets "just in case". Years ago one of my work colleagues house, on a very ordinary housing estate, was struck by lightning and he suffered great damage. Ever since, I have been a bit paranoid. OK a direct strike is rare, but power surges can and do occur.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?lang=en