[TowerTalk] Suggestions on Lighting Arrestor Location

[Mike Foerster]

Guys,

I've got my tower up (48ft) and beam (TH11DX)  and I have a couple questions
on the grounding of the system.  SWR is great!

I'm in the southern Minnesota area, down in a valley (not great for DX,
but...)

Anyway, I have 4 ground rods 2 either side of the concrete base, and the
other
2 about 10 ft either side of those, total distance of 25 foot spread.

I found that the TH11DX has isolated input so I added a ground PL259
connector
(looks like the old "blitz plug") at the antenna balun with a heavy ground
wire
to the tower.

I have a VHF/UHF vertical mounted at the top of the tower(isolated input
also).
I have a Cushcraft Lightning Arrester to mount somewhere around the base
for this antenna.

I didn't have a LOT of coax left to allow 3 turns inside the tower, but I do
have a
single loop.

Anyway, should the lightning arrester be mounted:

  A. At the tower, where the coax leaves the tower. (Shortest Path to
ground).

  B. Where the coax enters the house (actually the garage).  (Keeps the
power
outside the home, but offers some protection from the elements, and gets the
connection away from the tower.  Use a heavy wire to attach the shield to
ground.

  C. Inside the garage, after the coax enters the structure.  (Best weather
protection from the elements, run a heavy ground to the tower ground cable.

Mike




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