[Amps] What to do about 'Neutral' in HB amp?

n4is at comcast.net n4is at comcast.net
Wed Dec 28 18:29:53 EST 2022



Whats a catch 22?

You need to connect the Amp chassis to the AC neutral (wire connected to the
ground at the AC entrance), and you need to connect the Amp chassis to the
ground of the station, at same time, the  ground of the station need to be
connected to the AC ground at the entrance. All neutral wires must be
connected to only one point!  

You cannot do both at the same time.

If you don't isolate the AC house ground from the station ground, also
neutral, because it is also connected at the AC entrance, you end up with a
UNSAFE ground. RF can flow to the house, EMF generate currents on both wires
and you want the current to the ground, not to your house. It is a mess.

Neutral or ground are two names for the same thing, a wire from the chassis
to a bar on the ground. But!  The functionality is different, neutral is for
human safety, ground wire is low impedance path to the actual ground. A long
ground wire for the station is a problem, 10 ft long can became an antenna
for 28 MHz, a long neutral wire is not a problems, it  works for safety, if
no current flow on it, no load.

73's
JC
N4IS



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