PolyPhaser IS-50NX-C0 (Coax Lightning Protector)
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| Frequency | 1.5 - 700 MHz |
| TX power | 2000 W (Power handling 2 kW on HF (375 W at VHF). The power_w lists the 2 kW HF figure. It is a DC-blocked gas-tube design (no DC continuity through the center pin).) |
| Modes | n/a |
| rf | Type N female on both ends (50 ohm); flange/bulkhead mount to a ground panel. |
| ground | Bolts to a grounded entry panel - effectiveness depends on a low-impedance single-point ground. |
| power req | None - a passive in-line surge protector (must be properly grounded). |
A professional-grade coax lightning protector: the DC-blocked gas-tube design handles a huge 50 kA surge with very low let-through energy while keeping VSWR at 1.1:1 and adding negligible loss, and its soft turn-on bleeds static without injecting receiver noise. Flange mounting to a grounded entry panel is exactly how a proper single-point-ground station is built. Rated 2 kW on HF.
It only works as part of a proper grounding system - bolted to a low-impedance single-point ground/entry panel - so it is not a plug-and-forget device, and the DC-blocked design will not pass DC bias or control voltages (use a DC-pass model for remote tuners/preamps). It uses N connectors (adapters needed for SO-239 stations), and gas tubes degrade after major hits.
The PolyPhaser IS-50NX-C0 is a benchmark coax lightning protector - 50 kA capability, DC block and low let-through with 2 kW HF handling - for stations built around a proper single-point ground. The right choice where you need serious surge protection and do not need to pass DC.
The PolyPhaser IS-50NX-C0 is a professional-grade coaxial lightning/surge protector - the kind of device that belongs where your feedline enters the building. It covers 1.5 to 700 MHz at 50 ohms, handles 2 kW on HF (375 W at VHF), and uses a DC-blocked, specially configured gas-tube design: there is no DC continuity between the input and output center pins, which (with its blocking-cap technology and 'soft turn-on') lets it bleed slow static build-up quietly while clamping fast surges. It is rated for a 50 kA surge with very low let-through energy (~3.5 mJ), all while maintaining a 1.1:1 VSWR and negligible loss.
Mechanically it is a flange-mount unit with Type N female connectors on both ends, designed to bolt to a grounded entry panel so both connectors sit parallel to the surface - exactly how a proper single-point-ground (bulkhead) station is constructed.
The key point is that a protector like this is only as good as the ground it is bolted to: it must connect to a low-impedance single-point ground to do its job, so it is part of a system rather than a standalone gadget. Its DC-blocked design also means it will not pass DC bias or control voltages, so for a remote auto-tuner or a DC-powered preamp you need a DC-pass model instead; it uses N connectors (adapters for SO-239 stations); and gas tubes should be replaced after a major strike. Where you need serious protection without passing DC, it is a benchmark. Compare it with the DC-passing Alpha Delta Transi-Trap and the surge-protected Alpha Delta DELTA-4B switch.