[TenTec] Grounds

[Wade Staggs]

*I feel the same way. I have done all of the following for Nothing??? Two
Copper Clad 8 foot Ground Rods tied to everything in the Shack. Two
Stranded Copper Cables the size of your thumb. Ground Rods Bonded to
Electrical Ground at the Service Entrance, Cable TV Ground and Water Pipe
Ground (outside water spigot) And all of this less than 6 feet away outside
the Shack Window. 100% Crazy about Everything having the Three Wire Plug
and such. No Tower here so we are always ready to throw the RG-8 from the
Dipole out the Window. And also unplug the AC Outlets at a Moments
Notice. And now I learn that we did this All for Nothing. Sorry Folks but,
I have lived in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning Capitol of the World. Once
many years ago, lightning Splintered my Fiberglass 10 Meter antenna so
badly that all we found was white fiberglass toothpicks, and came through
the Window AC Unit, Blowing a hole in the AC Compressor and the Controls to
it out into the room. The Hiss of Freon took several minutes to die down.
Well, I personally don't know about you guys but, if we can keep a static
charge Off of Anything at this QTH that would draw a strike.... It will get
done. Heck, sure wish we could do a proper Halo. And.... I will Never again
use Any Antenna that has a Fiberglass Cover. That is just Begging for
trouble. Now fellows... if I am wrong? Please explain what it hurts to Try
and protect Yourself and Equipment.*
*                            73 my Friends from Wade/KJ4WS*


On Sun, May 18, 2014 at 11:09 PM, Cecil <chacuff at cableone.net> wrote:

> Dang...and I've been thinking all these years the work we do at all these
> commercial transmitter sites has been doing some good....
>
> Guess I need to look for other work....
>
> Cecil
> K5DL
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> > On May 18, 2014, at 3:43 PM, Carl Moreschi <n4py3 at earthlink.net> wrote:
> >
> > 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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> >>
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