[TowerTalk] Shack to service entrance ground

[Jim Brown]

On 8/18/2023 4:00 PM, Lux, Jim wrote:
> OK - you're in sort of an interesting situation, because your "shack 
> ground" electrode isn't part of the required grounding for your house - 
> that is, it's not a supplemental grounding electrode.
> 
> Nor is it part of a lightning grounding/dissipation system, so all those 
> rules don't matter.

There absolutely IS a requirement that all grounds in a premises be 
bonded together. If power is fed from one building to another, there 
must be an earth electrode in the second building, bonded to the panel 
(but NOT bonded to neutral in the second building IF ground is carried 
from the first building). Until 10-15 years ago, NEC did not require 
ground to be carried between buildings, and my property was built that 
way. It was subsequently modified to require that ground be carried, but 
existing installations are grandfathered.

The only thing about which I'm uncertain is conductor diameter. It's 
always been good engineering practice, especially where antennas are 
involved, for buildings to have a perimeter ground, with rods at various 
points around the perimeter. AT&T's Long Lines sites were built that 
way, and Ward recommends it in his book. I use a half-perimeter ground 
in the building that houses my shack; a cement patio is in the way of 
full perimeter. There are about 8 rods spaced along it, at the panel, 
and outside the shack near my coax entry panels.

73, Jim K9YC