[TowerTalk] Grounding

[Lee Buller]

I know we have discussed this before on the reflector, but I have a
question concerning grounding....

Some people are telling me I should tie all the grounds together...the
ground rod under the tower, in the shack and the AC mains together.

HMMMMMM.  Is that practical?  If I am running a 12 volt rig from a
battery...what do I need to ground?  I need an RF ground...right?  If the
rig is running from a 13.8 volt power supply (like an astron) would the P/S
be grounded through the AC Main if wired properly?  Still the 12 volt rig
would not be grounded except maybe through the negative lead of the power
cord...but some of those are floating as well.

I know there is an issue of ground differential....but for the life of me I
cannot figure out why to tie all the grounds together.  Some people
advocate that and I am just at a loss to understand why.  I just don't want
any AC stuff  attached to my RF ground.  Why would I want to have all that
ground wire going through to Romex back to the entrace panel and then to
ground.  Sounds like it would be no ground at all.  What is the difference
between an RF ground and an AC ground?

I guess I need some education here...

Lee Buller
k0wa@southwind.net



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