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3kW Open-Wire & Coax Bleeder — Protect Your Doublets and Inverted-V’s
3kW Open-Wire & Coax Bleeder — Protect Your Doublets and Inverted-V’s
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Open-Wire & Coax Bleeder — Protect Your Doublets and Inverted-V’s
Static buildup is the silent killer of tuners, rigs, and feedlines. Our Open-Wire Bleeder is engineered for doublets and monoband inverted-V antennas, safely draining static charges without touching your RF performance. For coaxial users, we also offer a Coax Bleeder
Key Features
- Handles continuous HF power ≥3 kW from 160–10 m
- Dual 1 MΩ / 10 W resistors — one per leg for balanced DC bleed
- Resistor rating: 12 kV each → 24 kV headroom systemwide
- GDT (2.7 kV, 5 kA) for lightning and surge clamping
- 6.8 nF / 6 kV capacitor for RF bypass and transient control
- High-voltage anti-creepage design: PTFE wire, PTFE spacers, HV coating & gaskets
- Available in open-wire or coaxial versions (PL or N connectors)
Performance
At 3 kW into 50 Ω, each bleeder resistor only dissipates <0.05 W — far below its rating. The system remains RF-transparent from 160 m to 10 m. Protection is voltage-based, not power-based: the limiting factors are the 2.7 kV GDT threshold and 6 kV capacitor rating, both far beyond what normal HF operation produces under SWR ≤3:1.
Mini-FAQ
- Does it affect my SWR? — No, the bleeder is RF-transparent from 160–10 m.
- Can I run QRO? — Yes, tested at ≥3 kW continuous HF with huge voltage margin.
- What about coax users? — A dedicated coaxial version with PL/N connectors is available.
- Do I still need a lightning arrestor? — Yes, the bleeder drains static, but a surge arrestor near the shack entrance is still recommended for full lightning protection.
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