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Notes from W1AW's Field Day 2007 operation
Murphy struck the W1AW generator - or - Mother Nature's wrath!
Jun 26, 2007 09:54 ET
Joseph P Carcia III, NJ1Q
Here, in the hand of our Building Manager, Greg Kwasowski, W1GJK is the solenoid that controls the automatic transfer switch for our Kohler 60-kW diesel generator.
You may have to magnify this shot to see the burned trace. But it's there!
This is the main control board located in the generator transfer switch box.
This is a front view of the engine control board. This board is located in the generator itself.
Even W1AW isn't immune to the effects (or wrath!) of Mother Nature (or, more specifically, lightning strikes). On Saturday June 16, a severe thunderstorm rolled through Newington. A lightning strike a street over took out a power line. We're guesstimating that induced current (on the neutral side) apparently arced over to the solenoid coil. We say the neutral side since the solenoid is located about an inch away from the neutral buss.
In addition to baking the coil, the main control board (also pictured) had some timing and phase-matching circuits fried. The main engine control board also suffered damage. You can see the arc on the trace (circled in YELLOW).
The generator has been in use since its installation back in 1989 (during W1AW's major station renovation). Obviously, there have been a number of close strikes since 1989. We consider ourselves very fortunate, given it's been 18 years and we've not had any problems at all of this magnitude.
Greg, W1GJK was able to make ALL the repairs prior to Field Day. And, they worked since the station ran off of generator power during the Saturday morning transmission of the Phone Field Day bulletin.
W1AW was working for WAS...and was almost successful!
Jun 24, 2007 14:45 ET
Joseph P Carcia III, NJ1Q
Field Day 2007 is all but a distant memory...even though for W1AW it ended less than an hour ago!
We'd like to thank ALL the staff and visitors who made this Field Day fun and exciting!
On the W.A.S front: Not too shabby. We missed just eight states. If conditions were just a tad better...well...you know the story!
Just wait until next year!! :-))
73,
Joe, NJ1Q
Dan, N1ND
"Ham on Street" commentary!
Jun 24, 2007 14:37 ET
Joseph P Carcia III, NJ1Q
There's just no good explanation for this one. Well, maybe there is...but I can't think of one right now!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu1PpVVZszQ
73,
Joe, NJ1Q
The coffee and doughnuts are beginning to catch up with us!
Jun 24, 2007 14:13 ET
Joseph P Carcia III, NJ1Q
Oh, and this was supposed to be a video about the Phone Field Day bulletin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTv6cAyws6o
73,
Joe, NJ1Q
Sunday morning.
Jun 24, 2007 13:18 ET
Joseph P Carcia III, NJ1Q
We're up bright and early. And, the visitors are going to town on the air!
