Antenna Safety

DANGER!

Danger & Warning labels are clues to your Safety!

Take time to read & understand 

Power line Safety label.

You may have seen this label on a commercial antenna or other products.

If you did not take a moment to read it carefully, 

Notice the word "near".

Is your antenna "near" those power lines or could it be when unforeseen things happen?

The EXTREME DANGER posed by installing an antenna, any antenna, to close to power lines. Just because it is made of material that is considered an insulator, you might be surprised.


Most new amateurs are excited when they get their license and they want to get on the air as soon as possible. Many of them have not given a thought to the actual installation of an outside ham antenna and the dangers involved other than getting it up as high as they can and having it fall on them.

If you don't read any more of this article, then remember just this very simple statement when putting up any amateur radio antenna,

"If there is a power line, including the drop line going to your house, over, under or within a thousand feet of the antenna, IT WILL FALL AND hit your antenna and YOU while you are installing it! If it does not happen then...just wait a while...it will fall. If it is under your antenna, the antenna WILL fall on the power line and you should not have been so stupid to install it over OR NEAR the power line in the first place and chances are you are not reading this. This is how "accidents" happen.

If you remember nothing else , remember two concepts called Step Potential and Touch Potential. Check out the electrical safety page on these concepts.  

 The most important thing you can do FIRST when installing an antenna is to LOOK before any part of that antenna, tower, mast or antenna support or any part of that antenna "system" ever gets off the ground. This includes the guy wires...what if suddenly one breaks and flys into a power line. You or someone else is in contact with the mast, or tries to stop the guy wire..

The principle is very easy. Go outside and consider every possible location for your antenna. Then look at each possible location with the DANGER aspect added to it. Where are the nearest power lines? Are you in the open, or are there trees in the area?

Look behind the trees or inside the foliage where they might be lurking, just like a rattle snake hiding there waiting to "strike".
Many times it's the power lines out in plain site that will get you or one of your helpers or all within it's reach!

Then, the SECOND thing you need to do is to get another pair of eyes from a helper to do the same thing...LOOK again at ALL possible hiding places for the danger of power lines and remember, it is the power line that you don't see or the one that you are not too concerned about that will terminate your fun.

ASSUME THE WORST WILL HAPPEN!

Now consider that most guyed antennas like verticals are supported on "something". It may be a metal mast on the ground, a short metal "tower" with legs on the roof, or a wooden pole or other supposed "non-conductive material. Is it conductive to high voltage?
Would you bet your life or your help on not knowing for sure?

Assume that every thing the antenna is mounted on AND EVERY THING it is connected to is conductive. Don't gamble your life on the words, "I think it is non-conductive"!!!

Assume that the guy wires are conductive.  If one breaks and snaps back or "accidentally" slips out of yours or a helpers hand, which direction will it likely go...toward the power line? If it is under much tension at all, it will act like a whip...Here comes Murphey's Law....  IT WILL go toward the direction of the power line!

Now, assume a domino effect. If your vertical falls toward a small tree that can't take it's weight, the tree will fall, INTO A POWER LINE....the power line connects to the tree, the tree is connected to the antenna or a portion of it, and it is connected to you....that domino effect just bit you like that rattle snake with a LETHAL BITE!

In short, assume that the antenna or any potion of it including it's guy wires, feed lines, support, etc WILL fall or break while you are putting it up "near" power lines. If any power lines are within "striking" distance of ANY portion of the antenna or it guys, support ropes, etc.....you may wish...for a split second, that you had planned your life much better rather than get in a hurry to DIE!

So far, we have talked about vertical type antennas. You should apply the above tips to ANY amateur radio antenna,
or antenna installation no matter how it is designed, how small or what it is made of.
Your antenna is your "friend" but it or any part of it could be your enemy!

Plan far ahead with these tips:

• Let others know what you will be doing and not just the person or persons helping you. All of you may need emergency care and no one may be able to call 911!

• If you are not sure what you are doing, get expert help!
  Plan your steps as if your life and those around you depend on it.

• Notify a family member or neighbor that you will be putting up the antenna. Ask them to keep an eye AND an ear out for you...
  HAVE A PLAN, NOT A FUNERAL!

• NO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS! Alcohol, drugs, electricity and "antenna parties" do not mix!

• Get a good nights rest before the big day.

• Have a clear mind when you are installing antennas.

• Have more than enough help.

• Make sure all those involved with the installation know exactly what will be done and in the proper steps. Make a plan and let your helpers know ALL of the details...

• Make sure all concerned know what to do if the antenna or any part of it starts to fall toward a power line.....simple....let go....get as far away as possible from ANY part of the antenna.....let it fall...DO NOT TRY TO KEEP IT FROM FALLING INTO THE POWER LINE.....YOUR EFFORTS MAY KILL YOU OR OTHERS!

Do not try to install the antenna in bad weather with wet ground, snow, ice, etc.
There is an old amateur saying, "Bad weather is the best weather to put up an antenna". Don't believe it. Mother nature loves to disrupt antenna installations and get you hurt or .....worse.

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER put up or even think about putting up any kind of antenna when you can hear thunder. If you can hear thunder in the distance, lightning can strike you!