For Power Limits and RF Burn wisdom from our guru peer group and RF mitigation topics, start here:
https://greylineperformance.com/pages/faq#reamaze#0#/kb/technical-data/what-is-the-power-rating-of-greyline-performance-antennas
For lightning protection ideas: Check out HRO's supply of Polyphaser gear, which is the highest regarded military grade in the business:
https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-001789
Remote Tuners and Surge Protection Install Tips:
Keep in mind some of the popular remote tuners that control the remote tuning unit with voltage over coax (which is a really great way to go!) will require a voltage pass-through the lightning arrestor to maintain the connection of control between the Remote Control (usually in the shack) to the Remote Tuning Unit (usually outside near the antenna). The higher-end remote tuners that are controlled by a parallel voltage supply line, of course, won't require this pass through detail. The control voltage for either scenario is typically ~ 12V and ~ 110ma.
That said, here are a few scenarios to get you started on options for your antenna system to shack surge protection circuit design:
Deciding what to protect is important. Do you want to protect the Tuner and Radio or just the radio? Some folks elect the latter and will install the surge protection at the bulkhead or entry to the shack where grounding is common.
If the DC control voltage is blocked whether your lightning protection is installed at the bulkhead or at the antenna site in series, in line with your remote control unit, you will want to go to the ground a different route. Routes that seem to be most common are installing surge protection at the Remote Tuners ground, between the tuner and the antenna (remember, surge protectors typically only "see" ground when a large voltage spike or surge arrives from the antenna, thus directing the voltage to ground only then), or at the shack entrance bulkhead. In the case of Greyline's OCF antennas, after the RF Choke is another option.
RF Surge protectors or lightning arrestors typically ground only during a surge of X amperes going towards the desired protected equipment such as the remote tuner or radio shack, coming from the antenna. There are in series scenarios and parallel's to consider as options for directing surge protection to the ground. As for Greyline OCF antennas (Flagpole and HF Vertical Dipoles)
1. To protect the tuner you’ll want to have your lightning arrestor installed between the antenna and the tuner. This shouldn’t be a problem as it is grounded during a surge only, which we want for our security. Please verify this makes sense for you with someone technically savvy in this area.
2. Placement of the surge protector is quite commonly installed at the bulkhead or entrance to the shack, for example on the bulkhead wall at the shack exit. With Greyline OCFs, anywhere between the RF Choke and the shack is good. Especially true if using a remote tuner that has secondary control cabling. Please verify this makes sense for you with someone technically savvy in this area.
3. Consider grounding at the ground lug of the remote tuner. If so, you may find swapping the positions of the RF choke and the Remote Tuner works best. This arrangement becomes Antenna-RF Choke-Remote Tuner.
Note: Grounding the tuner when installed between the Greyline OCF and RF Choke some report the tuner will want to continue cycling for a tune far too often and you'll want to avoid that annoyance. We want you to experience the broadband experience of the accurately installed system. You shouldn't need to retune unless you go to a new band. Again, verify this works before putting high power. Please verify this makes sense for you with someone technically savvy in this area.
Let us know how it all goes. Ham Radio is fun again. (Pass it on)
