Ham Radio Station Grounding, Lightning Protection

Ham Radio Station Grounding, this method is recommended in the ARRL Handbook.

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Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Lightning Protection
• Grounding
• ARRL Handbook
• Arduino
• Ham Radio
• Antenna

[SteverRob]

Now, a dumb question for my shack under construction: I've driven a 8' ground rod, as an RF ground and have run 00 copper into the shack to grounds of my radio, PS etc. I have bought an additional 8' ground rod for the lightning/earth ground, which I will sink next to my antenna (only about 10' from the other rod.) I was going to do a setup similar to what you have shown here with that rod, antenna, breaker box and arrestor box all going to it. Think this will cause ground loops?

[HamRadio2008]

@SteverRob I dont think that the second ground rod is really necessary but is shouldn't hurt it is so close to the other one. The point is that there should be a single point ground. The two ground rods I would recommend tieing together with a heavy copper wire then in essence making them one single ground point. Others may have some ideas too.

[HamRadio2008]

I feel more comfortable with a 9 foot copper ground rod driven into the ground close to the shack, additionally it serves as a definitive single ground point

[Earl6619]

what about grounding the COLD water supply to the house supply panel, nothing was said about that. It should also be grounded to the ham radio system!! at least make sure the

house supply panel is properly grounded. 73 de KR2L

[HamRadio2008]

@Earl6619 The basis of grounding the breaker panel to the copper cold water domestic water pipe is that the incoming line serves in essence as the ground rod. In the video the breaker box is grounded by a heavy copper wire (same like you would use to ground to the copper pipe) to the 9 foot ground rod. The Handbook and most radio protocol is to ultimately have one common ground point the ground rod which should be relatively close to the shack.

[joernone]

What's the purpose of the black terminal strip with the red insulated connectors?

Regards,

John

[HamRadio2008]

@joernone Thats the rotor control circuit.

[rhblakeman]

@HamRadio2008 The more ground rods you chain from the panel the better the absorption of a lightning strike you get and you get a stronger neutralization of the charge buildup overhead you get. I put a new service on my house and my shop and each had to have 2 (at minimum) 8 foot copper or zinc coated rods 8 ft long driven in the ground and the tops not closer than 3 inches from the soil surface (buried) and the copper ground had to be continuous from the meter box to the last rod

[electroman982]

With respects to the ground electrode, I see at least 5 code violations.....

Anybody.....see and name them.

[kf4cnm1048]

HamRadio2008 My shack is a long way from house breaker panel. So I wouldn't be able to run a grounding wire to the house breaker panel. Any other ideas on how toground my shack

[dolo724]

@Earl6619 Also, note that many newer houses and old house rebuilds will use plastic piping for the cold water supply once it's inside the house. Don't count on a solid cold water ground unless you lay hands on the pipe itself to make sure it's what you expect!

[VictoreCelia]

Nice grounding setup...

73