Now that spring and summer are here, so is the time for lightening. To protect your radio equipment, and possibly your home, you should disconnect the antenna from your radios when they are not in use. The best way to secure the coax, or transmission line, is to connect it to a grounding system to discharge any static that may build up, or lightening that may hit the antenna. If you're unable to ground the coax, be sure to place the end of the coax in a secure place in case there is a lightening hit or a near lightening strike. The antenna can generate a very high voltage even from a near lightening strike, without even hitting the antenna. Any time the antenna generates a high voltage it can produce a spark across the connector of the transmission line. This spark, if in the right place, could start a fire. Let's say you just disconnect the coax and let it drop. If the end of the coax would just happen to be near any papers or any flammable material, they could be ignited. If you're unable to connect the transmission line to a grounding system, then place the end of the line in a glass jar or something that would prevent a spark from starting a fire.
(Reprint, with modifications of, ARES Zone 3 Bulletin 01.14)
Ken Harris WA8LLM
Wood County WV;
ARES Assistant Section Coordinator WV
ARES District Emergency Coordinator WV DISTRICT 3