[TenTec] RF Ground

[Bob McGraw - K4TAX]

Sounds like you have a very good plan and a solid approach to the issue of 
lightning protection.  Polyphaser systems work.  Just follow their 
instruction for mounting and grounding.

As to connection between the tower and service entrance ground, since you'll 
have overhead wires, cables and such, you'll surely have a messenger to 
carry the load of the cables etc.  Ideally it should be copper for low 
resistance but I don't suggest such due to the likelihood of stretch under 
load.  Any conductor bonded to the tower and again at the house service 
ground will do nicely.  If you can find a scrap piece of triplex service 
drop, dump the insulated conductors and just use the neutral which is 
usually aluminum over steel for the messenger.

73
Bob, K4TAX




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rick Denney" <rick at rickdenney.com>
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 9:15 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] RF Ground


> Bob McGraw - K4TAX writes...
>
>> As to station ground rods, just be sure that you have a #6 AWG copper or
>> larger connected between the station grounds and the electrical ground at
>> the service entrance.
>
> Is there any reason why lightning protection devices can't be mounted
> right on the electrical service ground? My hamshack is in the basement
> less than 10 feet from the service entrance. I have been using the
> electrical service ground rod for the station safety ground, and to
> ground the short metal mast I use for a VHF antenna, which is also
> within a few feet. My main antenna is a dipole, but I will be adding a
> hexbeam-style antenna on an AB-577 mast very soon. My plan is to sink
> a ground rod at the base of that tower, and bond the tower launcher
> base to it. The screw-in anchors should provide their own ground for
> the guys (which are stainless steel cable--not the vinyl-covered guys
> supplied by the military). The tower will be 150 feet from the house.
> Bonding the ground rod at the tower should be no problem using #6
> wire, but it will have to hang in the air with the feedline and
> control cable.
>
> I am constructing a solid aluminum panel on which I will mount
> lightning protection devices (Polyphaser and ICE) for the antennas and
> control cable. That will be attached directly to the top of the
> electrical service ground, which is just outside the window to the
> hamshack.
>
> This is separate from the common-mode choke I will install at the
> feedpoint and at that lightning panel (because it's convenient),
> though I've never had RF problems in the shack.
>
> Am I on the right track with this approach?
>
> Rick, KR9D
>
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