Lightning Strikes & Two Systems?

[turbosat]

Lone, I don't think it's the SAMI, most likely the location it is in. No lightning strikes so far on my sami, it's been in the same place since about 1997, and looks, to me, to be in a great location to catch a strike, lol. We've had some great electrical storms over that time too. Maybe just have been lucky so far!

[Skyv1]

I've been told that sometimes the "ambient static electricity" associated with lightening can overwhelm the sensitive amplifier in an LNB(F), causing burn-out.

[Lone Gunman]

I only use grounding blocks for the cables which are then grounded.

Say, would you happen to have a part number or picture of those "Grounding blocks" that you are using?

A little update here too, I just switched over to a Ku TP on that SAMI system and it works on Ku, not on C. Was thinking the switch may be bad but since it requires 22Hz to make the switch to Ku, then that theory is shot. Since I've got an external 22Hz switch in my spare parts I may just put it in to double check it though.

Ennywhoot, there's a UPS and an 8' ground rod in this system's future! Anyone have a suggestion on the UPS?

[westom]

Anyone have a suggestion on the UPS?

Quite simple. Destructive surges are hundreds of thousands of joules. The only UPS that addresses your problem will state in its spec numbers how many hundreds of thousands of joules it can absorb.

Be extremely cautious. Many will recommend a UPS only rated at hundreds of joules. Near zero protection. Recommended if critical numbers - manufacturer specification numbers - were ignored.

Ground blocks such as GRB-1 and GRB-2 at (system requires you to reconstruct URLs):
www dot qintar dot com slash html/tv/f-con.htm
or
www dot dbsinstall dot com slash N-images/Whatis/Driploop-1.jpg
may even cost as much as $4 in Lowes or Home Depot.

[SimpleSimon]

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I've been told that sometimes the "ambient static electricity" associated with lightening can overwhelm the sensitive amplifier in an LNB(F), causing burn-out.

Bingo. Someone finally came up with the REAL reason to ground your gear.

Noting back to someone that said the LNBF wasn't attached to anything - well, it IS. The feedhorn probe will pick up static and a discharge can fry the beast.

Making sure the dish and the LNBF (via coax shield) are at the same potential is important. Beyond that, the arguments abound!
Usually, more than one "side" is right - depending on where you are.

Me, I live in the #2 lightning strike county in the USA, in the land of Pikes Peak granite. It's almost impossible to drive an 8' rod anywhere - but when that 4'er mashes directly into bedrock, I'd say you're "grounded". We rarely lose outdoor equipment - even with an extremel lightning hazard.

Indoor stuff on the other hand gets hit all the time - in houses that have wiring faults or don't use REAL surge protectors - often daisy-chained. Me, I run UPS behind 3000+ joule surge protectors. The electric company has spent a lot of money on lightning breakers, too - they work quite well.

P.S. Ground blocks are nothing more than a way to connect a wire to the coax shield. Electrically, they are the same as soldering a wire to the shield, but a LOT easier. They are NOT the same as a "lightning protector" which is usually a gas discharge bulb.

[sergei]

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Say, would you happen to have a part number or picture of those "Grounding blocks" that you are using?

There just standard Quad cable ground blocks that are at electronic stores or on Ebay which are all grounded to my house panel in the basement. One thing I didn't mention is I also have Spike Arrestor ( SA-1F ) on all my dishes LNB & LNBF's and on all the receivers inputs.