Reviewed the logs and found out that TX3 was still tripping off due to RF unbalance when used on Antenna 6 at 7300 kHz, in spite of the work that we did two days ago.  I then researched logs back to January, when they started using this frequency, and found this has been an ongoing problem.  We decided that it would be beneficial to observe this antenna in the evening during the half hour time slot of this broadcast.

There has been a problem with TX3 not tuning properly on higher frequencies, resulting in excessive cooling water temperatures.  I decided to begin at 9500 kHz and work up through the bands.  I just got started on this process, when Steve asked me to leave early (about 3pm) so we could return after dark to observe Antenna 6.

At 7pm, we were back at the site and positioned under the antenna for a close up, yet safe, view.  During the next few minutes we saw small sparks in various places, which we later concluded were most likely small insects being ‘cremated’.  About 7:26, the west end of the most active element at 7300 kHz lit up like a huge torch with a loud voice emitting from the flames, which were bluish colored and about 4 feet long.  I think Steve jumped back almost 20 feet when it happened!  [Wonder if this is like the voice that Moses heard in the ‘burning’ bush?]  This flame went out almost immediately, but about 2 minutes later the other end of the same element also lit up and quickly extinguished.  Simultaneously with this second arc, there was another smaller arc about a half wavelength away on the feedline — an interesting phenomena.  After that, no other problems were seen for the rest of the broadcast.  Back at the transmitter building, we checked with the operator and the transmitter had sensed both arcs and tripped off, thus extinguishing the arcs.  Without the sensitive circuitry that shuts the transmitter down, the flames (actually corona) would have burnt the elements off.

Back at home, I successfully replaced the circuit breaker for the water heater (geyser [pronounced geezer] here).  For several days when I have tried to turn it on for hot water in the morning, it would trip multiple times before I could get it to stay on.  Wednesday morning it took about 30 attempts before it would stay on, so we stopped by Swaziland Electrical Sales on the way to staff meeting that morning.