The New York herald., 1922-05-28
HOW TO KEEP RADIO
SAFE in LIGHTNING
Amateurs Advised to Dis
connect Antenna and
Ground Wires.
PRECAUTIONS SUGGESTED
Operators Told Not to Attempt
to Get Results While Storms
Are in Progress.

One of the most debated questions
among radio amateurs and broadcast
listeners is whether man who hangs
out an aerial hangs out at the same
time an invitation to every lightning
bolt in TIE vicinity to come and pay
him visit. The warmth of the debate
reaches its greatest height when one
of the participants is the unscientific
but forceful landlord of an apartment
house and the other is tenant.
The question is answered by G. K.
Thompson, radio superintendent of the
American Radio and Research Corpo-
ration, as follows:
You should harbor no fear mat
your radio installation will attract
lightning. The chances of lightning
no greater than the chances last sum-
mer. You should make it point,
however, to install such safety devices
as will render harmless the currents
induced in your antenna by lightning
bolts striking in the neighborhood.'
Mr.. Thompson, in discussing light
ming, divided the subject into three parts,
the protection of the house, the operator
and the set.
He suggests for the house the installa-
tion of a lightning switch or a grounded
short gap of approved design, avoiding
the purchase of slate base, switches,
gaps or other devices, which do not sup
port the ground conductor at least five
inches out from the wall of the build
ing. A good ground conductor should
he used. running directly as possible to
good ground connection, such as a
water pipe.
Have the installation approved by
your local inspector" he advises. so
that in case any damage to the building
by lightning ever comes to pass, the va
lidity of the radio Inhalation VII not be
questioned"
In considering the protection Of the
radio set itself from possible dams ge
from heavy electrical discharges Mr.
Thompson says:
The best precaution to follow is to
disconnect antenna and ground lead
wires from the terminals of the set be-
fore the thunderstorm breaks. IL YOU do
HoC care 10 ulSconnect the set rrO-
tectcd gap should be purchased and cen
nected across the antenna and ground
terminals on the instrument. a substi-
tute for such gap can be provided in
the form or burnt out flashlight bulb
screwed into a miniature base, the ter
mnals on the base being permanently
connected to the antenna and around
terminals of the receiving set. If the
latter terminals are mounted close to-
gether O. discharge gap may be provided
by clamping two ordinary sewing needles
in the terminSE, separating the points by
the thicks4e3 of piece or paper. For
maximum, protection. howe> er. complete
dsconnection OF tho receiving set from
antenna and ground connections is adj
vscd"
These suggestions are made for per-
sonal safety
Don't attempt to operate the set
while a local thunder shower is In
progress You can hear nothing but
static discharges, the elimination of
which is entirely beyond your con-
troi.
Don't touch the ground wire or the
antcnna lead wire while the storm
Is in progress.
If you use lightning switch don't
touch IL while the storm is in prog
ress. even though is may not be set
in the grounded position.