[TowerTalk] Grounding control cable/Rotator control box

[Joe - WDØM]

As a contributor, and being a least one of the guys who mentions Polyphaser 
from time-to-time, please know that I do NOT use their products - I use ICE 
products instead.  The Polyphaser web site is  simply a good source (among 
others) for information.

Since you ask about how to do something, then don't want responders to 
mention specific manufacturers, I'm not sure how I would otherwise be able 
to satisfy your request for information other than say - go look it up on 
the web....and that wouldn't be too helpful.  Nonetheless, I will provide 
you some information in hopes of trying to satisfy your desire to ground 
your control cables, but it will be necessary to mention a brand name - 
please feel free to search for equivalents - at least it's a departure point.

Take a look at the ICE web site and you'll find a great little device that 
works fine on grounding rotor and other cables - I use them for my SteppIR 
control cable as well. The model number is 348.   Array Solutions sells 
them....Jay WXØB, will be happy help you out.  And, as a disclaimer, I do 
not have any connection to any of the companies I've mentioned, other than 
a satisfied consumer.

Hope this helps.

73
Joe
WDØM


At 12:14 PM 9/13/2004, Noel wrote:
>Thanks to everyone who has responded to my query about grounding my
>control cable/rotator control unit.  But at the risk of sounding
>unappreciative of all the good advice I've gotten here on Towertalk. I
>feel it necessary to mention my dislike with what seems like constant
>pushing of one device or another when someone asks for information.
>
>Based on the responses it would appear that some don't even read the
>message and assume you're looking to purchase whatever they happen to be
>peddling. I'm really not interested in purchasing a polyphazer or
>monophazer or whatever other device.  If I were I'd ask for it.  It's
>great when people tell you what works for them under like circumstances.
>But too often it seems the responses are geared toward selling you this
>or that, even when it may not be what you're looking for.
>
>I use towertalk for information from other hams regarding all things
>tower related.  I know some on here will have interests in commercial
>products and so it may be natural to lean towards their products.  But,
>personally I'm not interested in the subtle solicitations to purchase
>your products.  I know some will be offended by that but someone had to
>say it.
>
>That said.  My tower is grounded with three #2 stranded copper wires
>from each leg each going to three 8ft copper ground rods spaced 16ft
>apart.  Thanks especially to Roger Halstead's great website on how he
>did his.  Anyway, each rod/wire point is exothermically welded using
>Caldweld oneshots.  The shields of the two coax cables going up the
>tower are each grounded at the base of the tower.  At the shack
>entrance, I've built my own single point ground where my station
>equipment is grounded to other ground rods just outside.    My coax
>cables all connect to a grounded antenna switch, also goes to the SPG,
>so if I disconnect the radio side of the switch my radios are isolated
>from static or possible lightening strike. This method still leaves the
>coax going to the antennas grounded. So I'm not worried about my coax or
>antenna ground.
>
>What is NOT grounded is the control cable going up the tower and neither
>is the control unit itself, a Yaesu G-450XL, since it does not seem to
>have a ground lug for this purpose.  The control cable is a shielded six
>pair cable.  I use two conductors for each rotator connection. And I've
>grounded the shield of the control cable also at the base of the tower,
>but not the conductors themselves.  This is my problem at the moment. As
>the control cable conductors build up static as they have no path to
>ground and go directly to the rotator control box.   Anyone familiar
>with how to resolve this I'd appreciate the advice.
>
>Thanks
>Noel
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>
>See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless 
>Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with 
>any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
>_______________________________________________
>TowerTalk mailing list
>TowerTalk at contesting.com
>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk