Ham Amateur Radio Technician Practice Exam

Why should soldered joints not be used in lightning protection ground connections?

1. A soldered joint will likely be destroyed by the heat of a lightning strike

2. Soldered joints increase resistance

3. They are not weather-resistant

4. They create impedance mismatch

The correct answer is: A soldered joint will likely be destroyed by the heat of a lightning strike

Soldered joints should not be used in lightning protection ground connections because they can be compromised by the intense heat generated during a lightning strike. When lightning strikes, the current can be immense, resulting in thermal energy that can easily exceed the melting point of solder. As a result, the soldered joint can fail due to the heat, which might cause the ground connection to become ineffective. In contrast, mechanical connections, such as using clamps or lugs, can withstand the physical forces and heat associated with a lightning strike much better than soldered connections. This ensures the reliability of the grounding system, which is crucial for protecting equipment and structures from lightning damage. The other options suggest issues related to resistance, weather resistance, or impedance mismatch, but these factors are secondary when considering the primary concern of heat damage in the context of lightning protection. The focus in this scenario is specifically on the survivability of the joint under extreme conditions, which highlights why soldered joints are not suitable for lightning protection applications.