Topband: Chassis Bonding

[Tom W8JI]

> And our home and ham station grounds, when properly bonded to the service 
> entrance, WILL share current with the utility system. I see about 7 amps 
> at home that "comes from" the utility (but I have a ground ring, lots of 
> rods, probably 500+ feet of copper in the ground and a well casing). It's 
> not a problem, but it's there.
>
>  -Bill

Absolutely, on all points including harmonics and noise, Bill.

The reason my power line neutral to ground system current is so 
exceptionally low is the location of the substation and the very light load 
on my lines. I'm in a rural area and the primary line is lightly loaded. It 
also runs almost directly towards the sub-station, with other branch lines, 
and becomes three-phase a few miles away.

If I have significant current (voltage is never that high) between my ground 
systems and the mains in an almost ideal case, most people would have a much 
worse situation.

Advising people to not isolate grounds on audio lines between different 
"cabinet grounded" pieces of gear is a reversal of progress made with 
interfaces. It really can only bring problems to all of us in the long term.

73 Tom