Question on grounding (at the rig) - longish.

[W5EUQ]

John,
          Charles is right.
It's simple, when you know how.  _

Make your own ground system._.. use two to four inch wide copper strap 
from this ground to your rig room.  Ground equipment to this strap.  See 
Radio Works for proper way to ground station equipment.  Then run two 
inch strap from your equipment "common ground" to the four inch strap.  
Keep the two inch strap short.. like three or four feet max.
Actually, it would be nice if you could ground the "common point" of the 
equipment to the four inch strap without the two inch strap.  But the 
two inch strap will work too. FLAT STRAP is essential.

Next, the common ground point of equipment, per Radio Works is essential.
Then, one ground point, like the one around the tower that Charles 
mentions, is essential.   Tie the power line to this tower ground, tie 
all other grounds to it.   One common mistake is to run a ground from a 
point to another point to another point.  Do NOT do this... that puts 
the VOLTAGE of lightning THRU that equipment.  Take ALL grounds to this 
common ground with INDIVIDUAL runs of flat strap.

Visualize a common ground...like the one on the tower that Charles 
describes.    Then you have   1. your equipment common ground to run to 
it... then you have the power company ground to run to it... then you 
have the ground for xxx to run to it.  RUN THEM ALL SEPARATELY.... 
that's the secret.
Grounding is a serious part of one's ham shack.  You were very wise to ask.
By the way,  I'm in the Florida capital of the world lightning area.... 
i sure don't want to jinx myself...but so far... I have NOT been hit and 
I've been here over four years....  one of the best lightning protectors 
is high voltage tension lines.  I live under one.  And my noise level 
has NOT been bad.  I work lots of weak DX on CW and SSB... mainly CW... 
on 160 through six meters....

Also, being a broadcaster for fifty years,  I've been hit at several TV 
stations, several times and have learned the hard way to have:
a "station ground point" that I tie EVERYTHING to.  Tower, Power 
Company, Etc.    Then NEVER take a ground from one system THROUGH 
anything else.  Picture an asterick..... the center being a ground... 
the "legs" go to the places you want to ground... each line being 
separate from the other... DO NOT TAKE SHORT CUTS..

Well,  I know I got wordy... sorry.... just wanted to make sure you got 
the "details".... hope this helps... Bob   W5EUQ





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