Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 11-08-2022, 10:25   #1
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6
SSB Antenna

Hi Fellow Sailors
Can anyone advise on a "bulletproof" SSB antenna disconnector switch, if there is such a thing.
Am intending on manufacturing a tinned copper knife switch type of arrangement to switch from radio to ground. Only problem this would mean climbing in the lazarette for switching purposes which is not ideal.
Any info / comments would be appreciated.
Dreamaround is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-08-2022, 11:21   #2
Moderator
 
Jammer's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Minnesota
Boat: Tartan 3800
Posts: 5,422
Re: SSB Antenna

97 from which to choose


https://www.dxengineering.com/search...tenna-switches


Those are for coax.


If you're just switching the wire coming out of the tuner, any switch or relay is fine as long as it has reasonable voltage handling capabilities. If you aren't switching the antenna while you're transmitting then all you care about is the insulation breakdown voltage not what the contacts can switch. Like many I use ordinary ice cube relays.


If you want a knife switch the ones sold for electric fences work well and are cheap. This style is stainless steel and available from several sources: https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/cut-out-switch
__________________
The best part of an adventure is the people you meet.
Jammer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-08-2022, 11:25   #3
Moderator
 
Jammer's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Minnesota
Boat: Tartan 3800
Posts: 5,422
Re: SSB Antenna

You can also use the Kencove ones though some of the components are galvanized rather than stainless. They can be converted to double throw which sounds like it is what you want:



https://kencove.com/fence/Cutout+Swi...tail_MCDHD.php


I had good luck with them for electric fences back in the day. You may be able to change out the galvanized parts for stainless bolts.
__________________
The best part of an adventure is the people you meet.
Jammer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-08-2022, 11:28   #4
Moderator
 
Jammer's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Minnesota
Boat: Tartan 3800
Posts: 5,422
Re: SSB Antenna

You can use electric fence insulating tube over the wire of your choice for making connections. It is much cheaper than G-10 and possibly easier to find, at least in the USA and NZ and other places where rotational grazing is used.


https://kencove.com/fence/Insultube_detail_G05.php


Handy for all kinds of wire antenna projects.
__________________
The best part of an adventure is the people you meet.
Jammer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2022, 07:26   #5
Registered User
 
Brian.D's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Oceanside Ca
Boat: Lancer 27PS
Posts: 617
Re: SSB Antenna

I've read and reread your question and think that putting a switch in between the radio and ground will do nothing. Now, if you want to totally remove the antenna from the tuner then that is a different story. If so, then do it at the base of the antenna. Your GTO-15 wire is coming from the tuner to the antenna and there should be a connection there. If so, just undo the connection. You now have no antenna connected to the tuner. But the radio is still connected so you will need to have a way to prevent someone trying to use the radio.

JMHO
__________________
Brian D
KF6BL
S/V Takara
Brian.D is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2022, 07:37   #6
Registered User

Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Cayuga Lake NY - or on the boat somewhere south of there
Boat: Caliber 35
Posts: 1,392
Re: SSB Antenna

perhaps this is an ignorant question but after installing an ssb on two of my boats i am wondering why you want to do this. Is it to protect the radio from a lightning strike? I always thought if lightning hit my boat then all the electronics would be fried no matter what I did.
sck5 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 16-08-2022, 06:59   #7
Registered User
 
Sivaa's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2022
Posts: 34
Re: SSB Antenna

Seems to be against lightning strike . If grounding point is clear , you may refer below link .

https://www.quark-elec.com/product/q...rge-protector/

There are instruments to identify indirect lightning and direct influence - to count the occurance of lightning influence . They are meant for Maritime applications as well . Certified for vessels and boats installation . You may have the statistics to make a strategy . Regards .
Sivaa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-08-2022, 12:57   #8
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6
Re: SSB Antenna

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian.D View Post
I've read and reread your question and think that putting a switch in between the radio and ground will do nothing. Now, if you want to totally remove the antenna from the tuner then that is a different story. If so, then do it at the base of the antenna. Your GTO-15 wire is coming from the tuner to the antenna and there should be a connection there. If so, just undo the connection. You now have no antenna connected to the tuner. But the radio is still connected so you will need to have a way to prevent someone trying to use the radio.

JMHO
Thanks Brian,my mistake , definitely want to switch from antenna to ground
Dreamaround is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-08-2022, 11:50   #9
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Sozopol
Boat: Riva 48
Posts: 1,409
Re: SSB Antenna

My SEA antenna tuner automatically connects the antenna output to ground when if the off state (a good size relay disconnects them before tuning). I have seen massive antenna switches at the base of the antenna do the same. The question of course is how much would an antenna switch help?

If it is a backstay, properly grounded, you can hope that most of the current goes through the mast and a tiny portion goes to the backstay, hence the tuner disconnect will help. Yet, the current will find its way throughout the boat even through the ground connections and still fry everything.

I think the only way to be sure is to disconnect the tuner, radio and all electronics completely and wrap them in aluminum folio. I would not bother unless lightning strikes were a frequent event in my area.
Pizzazz is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
antenna, ssb

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
HF antenna Back Stay vs. Screwdriver antenna BocaIII Marine Electronics 34 13-04-2014 03:15
Old Shakespeake Antenna vs. New Shakespeare Antenna zboss Marine Electronics 2 21-08-2013 09:27
Gam split lead SSB antenna Sailaway08 Marine Electronics 7 02-03-2013 10:33
Rope Antenna for SSB Keegan Marine Electronics 5 17-06-2007 11:48
SSB Antenna - What we ended up with.... swagman Marine Electronics 4 09-02-2007 05:12

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 15:39.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.