[TenTec] RFI Issues/Grounding

[Bob McGraw - K4TAX]

It is certainly a good idea to put a driven ground rod next to where the antenna feed lines enter the house.  A few things that need to go along with this.

This ground should be bonded back to the AC mains ground via a #6 or larger conductor and it must be outside of the structure.  No exceptions here.

Any and all lightning protection devices, such as Polyphaser systems, should be used on every line entering the house, be they coax lines, balanced lines and rotor cable.  These devices should be mounted either on or very near this driven ground.  If you can't mount these devices on a plate physically attached to the driven ground then a #2 AWG or larger cable should connect the ground plate to the ground rod.

Disconnect the ground presently in place to the water pipe in the basement.

Be sure each piece of equipment is connected with a jumper to the station power supply and that supply has the 3rd pin ground in place as well as the AC service for the station.

If you believe that a ground should be needed or attached to the equipment and connected to the driven ground outside, the point of connection in the station is the common point or ground point on the station power supply where each piece of equipment is connected.  My opinion, this is not needed if the antennas are basically resonant and thus present reasonable loads.

If you use a tuner to obtain a match between the transmitter and any of the feed lines, I suggest a choke type balun or UnUn,  being unbalanced to unbalanced, coax jumper on the input of the tuner.  See The Wireman item # 8232 or # 8332.  http://www.thewireman.com/baluns.html

73
Bob, K4TAX


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stephen Roberts" <steverob at shoreham.net>
To: <k9yc at arrl.net>; "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2012 6:42 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] RFI Issues/Grounding


>I have a question about grounding as well. I currently have my rig grounded to a cold water pipe in my basement via 6' of  1/2 braided flat/tinned ground strap. I'm about to put a ground rod in next to where my antenna feed lines enter the house, but it seems to me that if I run my ground from my rig directly to the ground rod which is grounded to the antenna feed lines, wouldn't that by default invite lightening into the shack should I get a strike?
> 
> 73,
> Steve
> 
> 
> 
> -----------------------------------------------
> Steve Roberts
> W1SFR
> Elecraft K2
> Sudbury, VT
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On May 16, 2012, at 11:29 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
> 
>> On 5/16/2012 7:57 PM, Jose F Ballester wrote:
>>> Don't have grounded antennas.
>>> 
>>> Why is it necessary?
>> 
>> An EARTH connection IS necessary for lightning safety.   Bonding 
>> equipment and grounded  things together is critical for personal safety, 
>> and also to minimize hum and buzz related to the mains power system.
>> 
>> 73, Jim K9YC
>> _______________________________________________
>> TenTec mailing list
>> TenTec at contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>