OK, but isn't that exactly what I said in what you quoted?
It was said in the context of that video - static electricity building up on an antenna. ...
Your suggestion of an NE-2 neon lamp would be good for limiting to 90 volts also (to be a bit more accurate, they limit to 90 V, the firing voltage. The 60V you mention is what they clamp to after firing). Although I'm not sure if an NE-2 would present too much capacitance for an antenna feed, or if the transmit voltage peaks would exceed thefiring voltage of the NE-2.
Great discussion. But a few technical problems. For example, static building up on an antenna never caused damage. Protection already inside all electronics makes static electricity irrelevant.
For example, this (
now obsolete semiconductor ) can be damaged by 60 volts. And when part of a system, will withstand 15,000 volts without damage.
Reasons for NE-2 neon lights is also why high frequency protectors also use Gas Discharge Tubes. Those also have low capacitance so that Gigahertz signals are not diminished. Those also trigger on a high voltage. Create plasma to conduct at a much lower voltage.
Static charges on antenna are a fable justified by emotions. All RF transceivers (even early 1960s semiconductor transceivers) routinely suffered direct static discharges to their antennas without damage.
Antenna protection is about destructive currents - ie lightning. So antennas are required, by code, to be earthed. Either directly to earthing electrodes or via a protector.
For example, that protection is standard even on commercial AM radio towers. That transmitter tower cannot connect directly to earth. So a spark gap makes that required connection. When antennas must be earthed via a direct hardwire connection or via a protector.
Furthermore, code requires an antenna lead to also have another earth ground where it enters a building. Properly installed antennas route an antenna lead down to the service entrance to be earthed. And only then rise back up to enter a building. Various National Electrical Codes (starting around Article 800) require that.
Rightly noted: a J pole antenna does not mean an earth ground exists. But that J-pole can be earthed directly, without a protector, to have best protection. Without diminishing antenna performance.
Yes, some antennas cannot connect directly to earth. So protectors are used. TV antennas routinely connect directly to earth without diminished performance. Depends on the design. But antenna must have some connection to earth.
Tripping voltage for an NE-2 is anywhere from above 60 volts to less than 100 volts. Once triggered, that voltage drops to well below 60V. So NE-2 (neon glow lamps) were common even in 1960 transceivers. Because that less than 1 millimap, conducted by an NE-2 bulb, means all static charges (thousands or ten thousands volts) are made irrelevant. Its trigger voltage is not its conducting voltage. It might take 90 volts to trigger a conversion from gas to plasma. Then voltage Through plasma is always well below 60 volts.
How does lightning work? It converts air to plasma. If I recall, lightning constructs 30 foot plasma sections. Once every section between cloud and earth is plasma, then the cloud discharges across what is now a three mile, tiny voltage, connection. NE-2 bulbs do same to make static charges irrelevant.
I ignore most YouTube videos. Too many outright lies (ie subjective claims). Learn this stuff from science. Or even the various articles in QST Magazine (the ARRL magazine) that discuss it. Too many YouTube videos promote scams. Are often why many repeat (recite) scams.
First indication that it is best considered a lie - it does not say why by citing relevant numbers. No numbers means he is best ignored.
Eaton protector. If that Type 2 protector does not protect from direct lightning strikes (and other surges), then a human mistake exists. Lightning is typically 20,000 amps. So a minimal 'whole house' protector must connect at least 50,000 amps (low impedance) to earth ground. And remain functional. Even many decades later. Protectors never do protection. Protectors are only connecting devices to
earth ground. (Therefore we say an antenna connected to earth, via a protector, is earthed.)
Most attention focuses on what defines protection. That low impedance (ie hardwire has no sharp bends or splices) connection to and the quality of earthing electrodes.
Low impedance is just one of many reasons why wall receptacle safety ground is not a relevant ground. It is only
safety ground - to protect humans. It does nothing to protect appliances or make a protector effective. It cannot connect low impedance to earth. Plug-in protector is only Type 3. A threat to human life if connected low impedance to earth.
A protector is only as effective as its earth ground. Type 3 protectors only do something useful if a properly earthed Type 1 or Type 2 protector exists.
Orange County FL suffered repeat damage to Emergency Response hardware. They finally hired people who know this stuff. That
case study. What was fixed to eliminate all damage? Only earth grounds.
We've been at this business for a dozen years, and not one of our clients has ever lost a single piece of equipment after we installed a proper grounding system.
No magic box (protector, UPS, power conditioner, etc) claims effective protection. Protection is provided by the item that harmlessly dissipates
hundreds of thousands of joules. Single point earth ground. As so
many professionals have said for so long.
Protection is only and always about where *hundreds of thousands of joules* harmlessly dissipate. Effective protection only exist when a surge it not anywhere inside. Then best protection, already inside every appliance (dishwasher, LED & CFL bulbs, central air, recharging electronics, GFCIs, smoke detectors), is not overwhelmed.
Good is to see one discussing technology rather than post emotions. Critical to appreciating what works (for anything - not just electricity) means relevant numbers are always discussed.
