LIGHTNING struck my rci2950 :(

**matt2950** · 01-01-10, 04:16 PM

Hi guys, got the sads lol.. lightning took my rci2950 out last night, its lighting up but no sound and the display is not showing anything, it just lights up orange N thats it

..

Anyone had this prob before ?.. is there any chance it will survive ?

Thanks in adv ... Matt

**trash** · 01-01-10, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Anyone had this prob before ?

What struck by lightning ? No, but it's not that I haven't been trying !

I've purchased a few radios that have been struck by lightning over the years, because I was curious about the nature of the strike and a bit of a challenge.

The most common radio I've seen struck by lightning is an IC202. These things are like a magnet for it. If you own an IC202 and you hear thunder... lock the bugger in a metal box !

The reason why I mention the IC202s is that it is a coincidence that their audio output amplifiers always end up getting fried.

If you're handy with a soldering iron and a circuit diagram, then it's a matter just working through what the strike has done. The IC202's I had, one was a direct hit to the antenna, it was a mess inside, but it was still repairable. The second had been disconnected when it was hit, the lightning jumped from the disconnected coax, hit the PL259 and proceeded across the circuit board to the audio amp chip, frying it and then out the headphone connector to earth.
A third had no visible signs of a strike, but checking the audio amp, it was dead (the only thing).

Start from the speaker and work backwards to the audio amps, then the IF stages and then the mixer and RF stages. You don't need anything fancy to test it.
I have a rectum paralyser, so the task is easy, but it can be done with an old AM CB as a signal source and a CRO. The scope doesn't need to be >30MHz, you're just using it to look for a carrier, not an actual sinewave etc.
You know the RX signal path, just work through it. At each stage of failure, replace the components required.

**matt2950** · 01-01-10, 08:24 PM

OK thanks trash, I wish it was as simple as a audio IC but the whole screens gone blank, almost like the cpu has died... funny you say that about the 202 coz I actually had a 208H sitting on the bench when this happened but it wasnt effected, it wasnt connected to the aerial though where as the 2950 was, both radios on the same supply.. damn thing !

**trash** · 07-02-10, 10:52 PM

Well, if you want to sell it or donate it to trash's dungeon of doom. I'm sure we can come to an agreement. If nothing else I'll disect it to learn more about lightning strikes

**CoBalt** · 08-02-10, 11:08 PM

Check the simple things first. 5,7,12V regs. No reg, no radio.

**w8srb** · 27-06-10, 12:40 AM

I have had this to happen to, lightning got my 2950, antenna, and power supply. Alot of times the 2950's chip is very sensitive to even the static from a strike that will kill it for good.

**Studio1** · 30-06-10, 08:26 AM

How many people who have radio gear of this sort are using lightning protectors - ie EMP discharge units?

Look here:

**mitaux8030** · 30-06-10, 08:33 AM

I use EMP surge supressors on all my fixed VHF & UHF equipment. The AMU (often incorrectly called ATU in my opinion) acts as a sacraficial surge supressor for HF.

Even so, when ever a Cb cell comes anywhere near here, I disconnect all antenna & mains from radio & computer gear.

**iwacelect** · 30-06-10, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trash

I have a rectum paralyser, so the task is easy...

yeah trash, you worry me,

what task exactly???????? must be handy at the mardi gra after party!

**matt2950** · 18-07-10, 04:05 PM

Hi again, finally got around to trying to fix the 2950 today, done some more research but not really coming up with anything ..
apparently IC4 is the voltage reg that I mainly need to be checking, so I got my meter out today & had a look.. it has 8volts in and 5volts out just like the manual says it should, took the CPU board out & had a little look & apart from 2 slightly heat damaged 1/4 watt resistors that measure fine anyway, everything looks ok ..

anyone have any ideas on what else I should check ? any way to confirm the CPU board is dead ? I really want my ranger back

(it lights up but thats it, just a dull orange lamp in the LCD)

**matt2950** · 18-07-10, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w8srb

I have had this to happen to, lightning got my 2950, antenna, and power supply. Alot of times the 2950's chip is very sensitive to even the static from a strike that will kill it for good.

Hi mate, when the lightning got your 2950 did it cause the exact same faults?.. screen lights up orange but nothing on display, no noise, dead ?

If so was the CPU board diagnosed as the fault - 100% ?

01-01-10, 04:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
matt2950 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 24 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 3	LIGHTNING struck my rci2950 :( Hi guys, got the sads lol.. lightning took my rci2950 out last night, its lighting up but no sound and the display is not showing anything, it just lights up orange N thats it .. Anyone had this prob before ?.. is there any chance it will survive ? Thanks in adv ... Matt

27-06-10, 12:40 AM	#6
w8srb Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: U.S. WV Posts: 40 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Rep Power: 1	I have had this to happen to, lightning got my 2950, antenna, and power supply. Alot of times the 2950's chip is very sensitive to even the static from a strike that will kill it for good. __________________ Where there is the will, there is a way!

18-07-10, 04:05 PM	#10
matt2950 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 24 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 3	Hi again, finally got around to trying to fix the 2950 today, done some more research but not really coming up with anything .. apparently IC4 is the voltage reg that I mainly need to be checking, so I got my meter out today & had a look.. it has 8volts in and 5volts out just like the manual says it should, took the CPU board out & had a little look & apart from 2 slightly heat damaged 1/4 watt resistors that measure fine anyway, everything looks ok .. anyone have any ideas on what else I should check ? any way to confirm the CPU board is dead ? I really want my ranger back (it lights up but thats it, just a dull orange lamp in the LCD) Last edited by matt2950; 18-07-10 at 04:06 PM.

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01-01-10, 08:24 PM	#3
matt2950 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 24 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 3	OK thanks trash, I wish it was as simple as a audio IC but the whole screens gone blank, almost like the cpu has died... funny you say that about the 202 coz I actually had a 208H sitting on the bench when this happened but it wasnt effected, it wasnt connected to the aerial though where as the 2950 was, both radios on the same supply.. damn thing !

07-02-10, 10:52 PM	#4
trash Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tamworth Posts: 1,072 Thanks: 13 Thanked 247 Times in 128 Posts Rep Power: 35	Well, if you want to sell it or donate it to trash's dungeon of doom. I'm sure we can come to an agreement. If nothing else I'll disect it to learn more about lightning strikes

08-02-10, 11:08 PM	#5
CoBalt Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Age: 28 Posts: 5 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Rep Power: 0	Check the simple things first. 5,7,12V regs. No reg, no radio.

30-06-10, 08:26 AM	#7
Studio1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Inside the toaster Posts: 964 Thanks: 31 Thanked 43 Times in 29 Posts Rep Power: 23	How many people who have radio gear of this sort are using lightning protectors - ie EMP discharge units? Look here:

30-06-10, 08:33 AM	#8
mitaux8030 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: A rock in the ocean Posts: 200 Thanks: 8 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts Rep Power: 7	I use EMP surge supressors on all my fixed VHF & UHF equipment. The AMU (often incorrectly called ATU in my opinion) acts as a sacraficial surge supressor for HF. Even so, when ever a Cb cell comes anywhere near here, I disconnect all antenna & mains from radio & computer gear.