[TenTec] Grounds

[Carl Moreschi]

My experience is not far from this article.  I have never connected any 
piece of ham equipment to a special ground with the ground lug.  I don't 
ground my antennas when not in use either.  If the ground from my 
antennas comes into the house, I don't want that ground to bring 
lightning surges into my home.  At the first hint of a thunder storm, I 
have a single plug I remove that removes all external AC from my 
station.  I also have a plate at the window where all my antennas enter 
the house.  I disconnect all my connections to that plate for storm 
protection.  The only protection that really works for lightning is 
complete disconnection from the outside world, including grounds. 
Remember if your ground just has .01 ohm and you get a 100,000 volt 
lightning strike, you still get a 1000 volt difference across the ground 
wire.  So it is futile to think you can ground something struck by 
lightning and keep the voltage low.

I have been in North Carolina for the past 40 years and this is what 
works for me.  North Carolina is second only to Florida in annual 
lightning strikes.

Carl Moreschi N4PY
58 Hogwood Rd
Louisburg, NC 27549
www.n4py.com

On 5/18/2014 4:17 PM, Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP wrote:
> Interesting article.
> I particularly loved his piece on SWR.  AMEN!
>
> I am not knowledgeable enough on grounding to comment on his recommendation;
> I'll leave that for others.
> However there was one bit that does annoy me.
> It is very dangerous to take one's own experience (even if it is over 39
> years) and apply that in general to the rest of the world.  "I've been
> driving a car for 39 years.  I am a cautious driver.  Never had an accident.
> Therefore I see no need for a seatbelt, airbag or even insurance."
>
> My method in protecting from a lightning strike is an outdoor connection.  I
> simply unscrew the coax and throw it out into the yard (after placing a
> plastic protective cover over the PL).
>
> I also unplug ALL equipment from the wall - but I learned something from
> this document.
> I have not been disconnecting my ground which goes to a stake just outside
> the house.
> Will do that in the future.
>
> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
> (Nr. Frankfurt am Main)
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Jim Allen
> Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2014 9:17 PM
> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
> Subject: [TenTec] Grounds
>
> While perusing eHam for another topic, I ran across this article which I
> share to provoke comments.
>
> http://www.eham.net/articles/21383
>
> 73 de W6OGC  Jim Allen
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