Gentlemen,
Ithink we can conclude that any "grounding/bonding" systemis "only" for
lightning protection and for our safety, andis not that good as an RF ground.
RF grounding, when needed, shouldbe treated separate from the lightning
protection.
Apoint here is what the lightning protection is for?
We canencapsulate our radio shack, radio bunker, what-have-you withshielded
walls. floor and ceiling, surge protections for power lines,antenna feeders etc
to a point that the equipment is protected fromlightning strikes without any
grounding what-so-ever. (I have triedto do that with my newly built shack.)
Grounding the shack can evenbe counter-active as the current from a lightning
strike in the towermay go through the equipment in the shack to the ground.
Ourgrounding rods, Ufer ground etc is to limit damages to thesurrounding,
connected to our shack by power lines, telephone linesetc. The better
grounding/bonding system we have, the less damageswill happen to equipment in
the surrounding, not protected by our own elaborateprotection. It's the same
reason the utilities are grounding/bondingtheir lines and equipment with
extensive use of grounding rods.
Ihave nine rods connected to my tower, three per leg. I don't know ifthis is
enough and I hope not ever to find out. I have a heavyconductor connected
between my tower and the shield surrounding my shack,hope that a strike to my
tower will not damage equipment in my shack. The shield is “only” grounded
through the tower and its groundconnection as I don't want current from a
strike to go through the shield if I can avoid it.
Best 73 de,
Hans - N2JFS
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