[BC] More thoughts about AM transmitter lightning

[Cowboy]

On Thursday 22 May 2008 10:57 am, RichardBJohnson at comcast.net wrote:
>   the following things need to be
>  done BEFORE antenna measurements.

 I'd agree fully with that statement.

>  (2) A proper ball-gap needs to be installed
>  across the base insulator. It needs to be
>  adjusted for about an inch of spacing, slightly
>  greater if there are nuisance arcs. Note,
>  dry air at sea level holds off 30 kV per centimeter.

 An inch seems excessive to me.
 I still like the old-school method. Close 'em down until they start to arc with
 modulation, then open them up until they stop, on as humid a day as
 is likely to occur without actually raining.
 Anything smaller than about 1/8 inch seems to draw ants and such,
 which cause their own problems.

-- 
Cowboy