Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding
I do something similar, but tin only a very short tip of the braid, then use an awl to create a hole in the untinned braid near the end. Using 1/2" wide flat braid. 73, Erik K7TV -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Jim Cassidy Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2018 8:13 AM To: dave Cc: Elecraft Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding To connect flat braid to equipment I have simply tinned the end and drilled an appropriate size hole thru the tinned end. Simplest form of ring lug. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding
Nope. That is the same grounding scheme I've used for years. The 3rd pin safety ground is really all that is needed for the station inside. As to lightning protection, that is done outside of the house and takes into account the tower, the rotor, the antennas and it is bonded outside of the house back to the AC Mains entrance ground. 73 Bob, K4TAX On 10/13/2018 12:22 PM, Jan wrote: Confession: I never ground anything, except via the 3-conductor power cords . . . . Am I the only one? . . . . I've been a ham for 64 years, lived & operated in Michigan(first as Wn8SWN/W8SWN), in Malaysia (as 9M2JJ; 1962-64), in Finland (as OH1/K1ND/P for a week, 2003), in Maine (as WA1VZZ & K1ND for 7 years) and now back in Michigan(as K1ND) since 1982. I've never had a strike; I'm not on the Honor Role (by choice) ~ worked 21 DX entities since January and operate nearly everyday of the year = some CW and some SSB. Cheers, Jan K1ND __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to rmcg...@blomand.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding
Confession: I never ground anything, except via the 3-conductor power cords . . . . Am I the only one? . . . . I've been a ham for 64 years, lived & operated in Michigan(first as Wn8SWN/W8SWN), in Malaysia (as 9M2JJ; 1962-64), in Finland (as OH1/K1ND/P for a week, 2003), in Maine (as WA1VZZ & K1ND for 7 years) and now back in Michigan(as K1ND) since 1982. I've never had a strike; I'm not on the Honor Role (by choice) ~ worked 21 DX entities since January and operate nearly everyday of the year = some CW and some SSB. Cheers, Jan K1ND __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding
To connect flat braid to equipment I have simply tinned the end and drilled an appropriate size hole thru the tinned end. Simplest form of ring lug. - Original Message - From: "dave" To: "Elecraft" Sent: Friday, October 12, 2018 11:29:22 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding Hi Lee, When I got my K3 I rebuilt my shack from teh ground up, starting with the ground, with an eye to reduction of RFI. I took a lot of Jim's, suggestions, and I lost about 2 S units of noise. That process is detailed here: https://www.nk7z.net/rebuilding-the-shack/ 73s and thanks, Dave (NK7Z/NNR0DC) https://www.nk7z.net ARRL Technical Specialist ARRL Volunteer Examiner ARRL OOC for Oregon On 10/12/18 9:47 AM, Leroy Buller wrote: > Ok, I just rebuilt my station and wonder how many of you actually ground > your K3 or your rig? I have the amp and tuner grounded, but I find > grounding the K3 somewhat difficult. Why? Getting my fat ham fingers to > the rear if the rig and tighting up the knurled knob with stiff wire is > quite infuriating. All the connecting cables are in the way and it just > trips my trigger. Then being able to reach over all the doodads and > geegaws to attach ground is a frustration of mine. Many years ago it was > good practice to use solid wire but now i see others using braid. Stiff > wire adds to my frustration. So, for my mental health I would like some > suggestions or ideas how best to deal with this. I know...suck it up. > There has got to be a better way. > > Lee K0WA > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to d...@nk7z.net > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to jc_k...@q.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding
For the station bonding jumpers, #10 AWG auto primary wire with a ring
terminal attached is very adequate. Easy to work with, inexpensive,
does the job, and makes for a clean installation. Personally, I crimp
{mechanical connection} and solder {electrical connection} my ring
terminals on the jumpers.
73
Bob, K4TAX
On 10/12/2018 4:57 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
On 10/12/2018 2:32 PM, Edward R Cole wrote:
Probably using braid or multi-strand wire would make it easier.
Yes, but NEVER used braid exposed to moisture.
73, Jim K9YC
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Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding
I *am* using a homemade lug, as stated. It's neater than cramming 1" of braid into the round barrel of a terminal lug. The braid lays flat right off the screw terminal and onto the desk surface, no bunching into the lug. 73, Drew AF2Z On 10/12/18 22:57, Don Wilhelm wrote: Why try to connect the wire or braid directly to the ground lug? Soldering a lug onto the end of a wire or braid makes it "oh so easy" to attach. 73, Don W3FPR On 10/12/2018 6:29 PM, Drew AF2Z wrote: Yes, it is a hassle getting a stiff copper wire on that little ground screw. I use 1" braid with a strip of copper sheet folded and soldered over the end and a screw hole drilled through-- basically, homemade flat terminal lugs on the ends of the braid. Very easy to manage now. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding
Hi Vic, You certainly have lots of RF in the shack, with your shack only six meters below your antenna, everything in it (including you!) is part of your antenna especially on the low bands. Please be sure your personal RF exposure level is safe 73 Frank W3LPL - Original Message - From: "Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP" To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2018 4:03:11 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding My shack is only about 6m below my antenna, and although there is a concrete roof between us, I had problems of RF pickup in my computer. My antenna is balanced, I used a lot of ferrites on the cables, and bonded all of the equipment together with copper straps. But the biggest improvement came when I bonded the three main parts of my metal office desk together and to the equipment. 73, Victor, 4X6GP Rehovot, Israel Formerly K2VCO CWops no. 5 http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ On 12 Oct 2018 23:00, Gary Smith wrote: > I too have paid attention to Jim, K9YC's > advice. Nobody knows it all but he's > proven to know enough to be an authority > on the subject so I listen to what he has > to say. > > To that end, I have put in a lot of effort > to have the Antennas, roof tripod and > breaker box tied together with #4 solid > copper wire. Antennas & Rx antennas are > connected via Polyphaser to the 8' ground > rod outside the shack. > > The #4 ground wire snakes in under the > door jamb and terminates on a piece of > flat stock 6" long. I drilled 8 1/4" holes > in that and have SS 1/4" bolts nutted down > tight and use the 8 bolts as anchor points > for the equipment. > > I have #6 insulated copper wire attached > to the K3, P3, Alpha amp, 6M amp, NCC-2 > and Green Heron Controller. I yet need to > ground the computer, antenna switch, HI-Z > controllers and the Iota DLS-55 power > supply. I also need to find the best way > to ground the control wires to the rotor, > the HI-Z cables and the remote coax > switch. > > Braid is much easier to use but since > things don't get moved much, I bent the > copper wire to fit the device to the table > and being ground wire, I like the idea of > solid wire & I wanted shielded so it > doesn't inadvertently touch improperly > down the line and create a ground loop. I > could have used coax as ground but it > wouldn't bend well and would always be a > PITA to deal with. > > One thing for sure, I like how consistent > things seem to be when everything is > grounded. More, I feel much safer now. > > 73, > > Gary, KA1J __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to donov...@starpower.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding
My shack is only about 6m below my antenna, and although there is a concrete roof between us, I had problems of RF pickup in my computer. My antenna is balanced, I used a lot of ferrites on the cables, and bonded all of the equipment together with copper straps. But the biggest improvement came when I bonded the three main parts of my metal office desk together and to the equipment. 73, Victor, 4X6GP Rehovot, Israel Formerly K2VCO CWops no. 5 http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ On 12 Oct 2018 23:00, Gary Smith wrote: I too have paid attention to Jim, K9YC's advice. Nobody knows it all but he's proven to know enough to be an authority on the subject so I listen to what he has to say. To that end, I have put in a lot of effort to have the Antennas, roof tripod and breaker box tied together with #4 solid copper wire. Antennas & Rx antennas are connected via Polyphaser to the 8' ground rod outside the shack. The #4 ground wire snakes in under the door jamb and terminates on a piece of flat stock 6" long. I drilled 8 1/4" holes in that and have SS 1/4" bolts nutted down tight and use the 8 bolts as anchor points for the equipment. I have #6 insulated copper wire attached to the K3, P3, Alpha amp, 6M amp, NCC-2 and Green Heron Controller. I yet need to ground the computer, antenna switch, HI-Z controllers and the Iota DLS-55 power supply. I also need to find the best way to ground the control wires to the rotor, the HI-Z cables and the remote coax switch. Braid is much easier to use but since things don't get moved much, I bent the copper wire to fit the device to the table and being ground wire, I like the idea of solid wire & I wanted shielded so it doesn't inadvertently touch improperly down the line and create a ground loop. I could have used coax as ground but it wouldn't bend well and would always be a PITA to deal with. One thing for sure, I like how consistent things seem to be when everything is grounded. More, I feel much safer now. 73, Gary, KA1J __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding
And when Bob, N6TV visited my station, the asked, "Why aren't you using a spade lug for K3 ground?" I could only say, "Duh!". 73 Bill AE6JV On 10/12/18 at 7:57 PM, donw...@embarqmail.com (Don Wilhelm) wrote: Why try to connect the wire or braid directly to the ground lug? Soldering a lug onto the end of a wire or braid makes it "oh so easy" to attach. 73, Don W3FPR On 10/12/2018 6:29 PM, Drew AF2Z wrote: Yes, it is a hassle getting a stiff copper wire on that little ground screw. I use 1" braid with a strip of copper sheet folded and soldered over the end and a screw hole drilled through-- basically, homemade flat terminal lugs on the ends of the braid. Very easy to manage now. --- Bill Frantz|The nice thing about standards| Periwinkle (408)356-8506 |is there are so many to choose| 16345 Englewood Ave www.pwpconsult.com |from. - Andrew Tanenbaum| Los Gatos, CA 95032 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding
Why try to connect the wire or braid directly to the ground lug? Soldering a lug onto the end of a wire or braid makes it "oh so easy" to attach. 73, Don W3FPR On 10/12/2018 6:29 PM, Drew AF2Z wrote: Yes, it is a hassle getting a stiff copper wire on that little ground screw. I use 1" braid with a strip of copper sheet folded and soldered over the end and a screw hole drilled through-- basically, homemade flat terminal lugs on the ends of the braid. Very easy to manage now. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding
Yes, it is a hassle getting a stiff copper wire on that little ground screw. I use 1" braid with a strip of copper sheet folded and soldered over the end and a screw hole drilled through-- basically, homemade flat terminal lugs on the ends of the braid. Very easy to manage now. 73, Drew AF2Z On 10/12/18 12:47, Leroy Buller wrote: Ok, I just rebuilt my station and wonder how many of you actually ground your K3 or your rig? I have the amp and tuner grounded, but I find grounding the K3 somewhat difficult. Why? Getting my fat ham fingers to the rear if the rig and tighting up the knurled knob with stiff wire is quite infuriating. All the connecting cables are in the way and it just trips my trigger. Then being able to reach over all the doodads and geegaws to attach ground is a frustration of mine. Many years ago it was good practice to use solid wire but now i see others using braid. Stiff wire adds to my frustration. So, for my mental health I would like some suggestions or ideas how best to deal with this. I know...suck it up. There has got to be a better way. Lee K0WA __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to pu...@af2z.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding
On 10/12/2018 2:32 PM, Edward R Cole wrote: Probably using braid or multi-strand wire would make it easier. Yes, but NEVER used braid exposed to moisture. 73, Jim K9YC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding
Probably using braid or multi-strand wire would make it easier. When I wired my safety ground to my 8877 PA chassis from ground rod, outside, I bought No. 8 awg. Still pretty stiff. I have 8-32 studs for connection. 2m-8877 was sold in June now all sspa with 12/28/50v PS. But one thing I did in my shack design was leave at least 30-inch space behind My radio table and racks for wiring access to the backside of my equipment. Maybe not something one can do with existing station layout but keep in mind if doing renovations. This winter I am making major layout changes now that my PA's will be outside at the base of towers or the dish. I have 17 coax lines coming into the shack and about the same number control cables. Stuff gets rearranged often. It is said that EME is 90% maint./engineering and 10% operating. By end of 2019 hopefully QRV on five eme bands and 630m to 3cm in wavelength (not all eme). 73, Ed - KL7UW Three towers and one dish (so far) 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com Dubus-NA Business mail: dubus...@gmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding
I too have paid attention to Jim, K9YC's advice. Nobody knows it all but he's proven to know enough to be an authority on the subject so I listen to what he has to say. To that end, I have put in a lot of effort to have the Antennas, roof tripod and breaker box tied together with #4 solid copper wire. Antennas & Rx antennas are connected via Polyphaser to the 8' ground rod outside the shack. The #4 ground wire snakes in under the door jamb and terminates on a piece of flat stock 6" long. I drilled 8 1/4" holes in that and have SS 1/4" bolts nutted down tight and use the 8 bolts as anchor points for the equipment. I have #6 insulated copper wire attached to the K3, P3, Alpha amp, 6M amp, NCC-2 and Green Heron Controller. I yet need to ground the computer, antenna switch, HI-Z controllers and the Iota DLS-55 power supply. I also need to find the best way to ground the control wires to the rotor, the HI-Z cables and the remote coax switch. Braid is much easier to use but since things don't get moved much, I bent the copper wire to fit the device to the table and being ground wire, I like the idea of solid wire & I wanted shielded so it doesn't inadvertently touch improperly down the line and create a ground loop. I could have used coax as ground but it wouldn't bend well and would always be a PITA to deal with. One thing for sure, I like how consistent things seem to be when everything is grounded. More, I feel much safer now. 73, Gary, KA1J > Hi Lee, > > When I got my K3 I rebuilt my shack from teh ground up, starting with > the ground, with an eye to reduction of RFI. I took a lot of Jim's, > suggestions, and I lost about 2 S units of noise. That process is > detailed here: > > https://www.nk7z.net/rebuilding-the-shack/ > > 73s and thanks, > Dave (NK7Z/NNR0DC) > https://www.nk7z.net > ARRL Technical Specialist > ARRL Volunteer Examiner > ARRL OOC for Oregon __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding
Hi Lee, When I got my K3 I rebuilt my shack from teh ground up, starting with the ground, with an eye to reduction of RFI. I took a lot of Jim's, suggestions, and I lost about 2 S units of noise. That process is detailed here: https://www.nk7z.net/rebuilding-the-shack/ 73s and thanks, Dave (NK7Z/NNR0DC) https://www.nk7z.net ARRL Technical Specialist ARRL Volunteer Examiner ARRL OOC for Oregon On 10/12/18 9:47 AM, Leroy Buller wrote: Ok, I just rebuilt my station and wonder how many of you actually ground your K3 or your rig? I have the amp and tuner grounded, but I find grounding the K3 somewhat difficult. Why? Getting my fat ham fingers to the rear if the rig and tighting up the knurled knob with stiff wire is quite infuriating. All the connecting cables are in the way and it just trips my trigger. Then being able to reach over all the doodads and geegaws to attach ground is a frustration of mine. Many years ago it was good practice to use solid wire but now i see others using braid. Stiff wire adds to my frustration. So, for my mental health I would like some suggestions or ideas how best to deal with this. I know...suck it up. There has got to be a better way. Lee K0WA __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to d...@nk7z.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding
On 10/12/2018 10:02 AM, Jim McDonald wrote: I use braided copper strap, and my operating desk is about 2' away from the wall, so I can walk behind it. I wish I had done that when I set up my shack in the home I bought when I moved to California. On 10/12/2018 9:47 AM, Leroy Buller wrote: There has got to be a better way. I make short jumpers (an inch or two) with a lug on one end and a Power Pole on the other. I then make Power Pole jumpers from there to multi-way Power Pole connector blocks, as well as home brew Power Pole paralleling junctions that tie my gear to the house ground system. I often take one or more my rigs to the field for Field Day, the 7th area QSO Party, and the California QSO Party. Having that short Power Pole jumper on the back of the K3 really helps. On 10/12/2018 9:54 AM, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote: I bond each piece of equipment to a common ground terminal on my power supply. I do not have any ground from the station to the outside. Only the 3rd pin safety ground is in place. Most authorities advise that MORE bonding is best. The fundamental principle is to have the potential of everything in your home rise to as close as possible to the same potential in the event of a strike. At the very least, I would add serious bonds between your operating desk, antenna entry panel, and your exterior collection of ground rods, making them as short as possible. The lack of that bonding has the potential for a strike generating a very high potential between your operating desk and antenna system. N0AX addresses this in his recent ARRL book on Grounding and Bonding. The station is fed from a common 240V 4 wire service for the amp and other related equipment. From the 240V 4 wire service, I break off with 2 duplex outlets on each line side. Thus the neutral and safety ground are common for the station. That's great. All efforts toward lightning protection are implemented outside of the house. This includes a driven ground system at the base of the tower next to the house and it is bonded outside of the house to the AC Mains ground. The lightning rod system on the roof is also bonded to the AC Mains ground. How far are the AC entry and your tower from your shack? If they're very close, that's fine. If not, I'd strongly consider a perimeter ground, as described in N0AX's book. I've implemented a perimeter ground halfway around the building that houses my shack from the panel to the antenna entry panel, with ground rods at four points around that perimeter and four more outside the shack. There's a bond from there to the antenna panel, and from the panel to the steel conduit (EMT that carries AC wiring from the shack to the AC panel. On 10/12/2018 10:31 AM, Wes Stewart wrote: As far as I'm concerned this is just a safety ground, not something worthy of an RF ground. What's an RF ground? :) And lightning is both a DC event and an RF event. All of the other gear is similarly grounded to the same clamp. Worrywarts will wring their hands over ground loops, RF in the shack, install hundreds of dollars worth of ferrite, etc. None of that here. Depending on how close your shack is to your antennas, ferrite cores can be needed on cables like those from computers to video monitors and monitors to their power supplies to kill RX noise. And until I replaced the power supply for my SteppIR controller with a home brew regulated 33V supply, 15, 12, and 10M bands were unusable, and no amount of ferrite would kill the noise! But like you, I use no ferrite cores on anything in the RF or audio path -- all that is solved by bonding ALL the interconnected gear, including the computer. 73, Jim K9YC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding
I use a 14 AWG insulated stranded wire with a spade lug on it for the K3 side. The other end is bolted to a clamp on the EMT that carries the AC service into the shack. As far as I'm concerned this is just a safety ground, not something worthy of an RF ground. All of the other gear is similarly grounded to the same clamp. Worrywarts will wring their hands over ground loops, RF in the shack, install hundreds of dollars worth of ferrite, etc. None of that here. Forget about using braid. Wes N7WS . On 10/12/2018 9:47 AM, Leroy Buller wrote: Ok, I just rebuilt my station and wonder how many of you actually ground your K3 or your rig? I have the amp and tuner grounded, but I find grounding the K3 somewhat difficult. Why? Getting my fat ham fingers to the rear if the rig and tighting up the knurled knob with stiff wire is quite infuriating. All the connecting cables are in the way and it just trips my trigger. Then being able to reach over all the doodads and geegaws to attach ground is a frustration of mine. Many years ago it was good practice to use solid wire but now i see others using braid. Stiff wire adds to my frustration. So, for my mental health I would like some suggestions or ideas how best to deal with this. I know...suck it up. There has got to be a better way. Lee K0WA __ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding
I use braided copper strap, and my operating desk is about 2' away from the wall, so I can walk behind it. Jim N7US Sent from Samsung tablet Original message From: Leroy Buller Date: 10/12/18 11:47 AM (GMT-06:00) To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding Ok, I just rebuilt my station and wonder how many of you actually ground your K3 or your rig? I have the amp and tuner grounded, but I find grounding the K3 somewhat difficult. Why? Getting my fat ham fingers to the rear if the rig and tighting up the knurled knob with stiff wire is quite infuriating. All the connecting cables are in the way and it just trips my trigger. Then being able to reach over all the doodads and geegaws to attach ground is a frustration of mine. Many years ago it was good practice to use solid wire but now i see others using braid. Stiff wire adds to my frustration. So, for my mental health I would like some suggestions or ideas how best to deal with this. I know...suck it up. There has got to be a better way. Lee K0WA __ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding
I added two large washers over the post. Makes it easier to sandwich the ground braid between them. Poke a hole in the braid to go over the post. On Fri, Oct 12, 2018, 12:49 PM Leroy Buller wrote: > Ok, I just rebuilt my station and wonder how many of you actually ground > your K3 or your rig? I have the amp and tuner grounded, but I find > grounding the K3 somewhat difficult. Why? Getting my fat ham fingers to > the rear if the rig and tighting up the knurled knob with stiff wire is > quite infuriating. All the connecting cables are in the way and it just > trips my trigger. Then being able to reach over all the doodads and > geegaws to attach ground is a frustration of mine. Many years ago it was > good practice to use solid wire but now i see others using braid. Stiff > wire adds to my frustration. So, for my mental health I would like some > suggestions or ideas how best to deal with this. I know...suck it up. > There has got to be a better way. > > Lee K0WA > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to radiok...@gmail.com > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Confessions of grounding
I bond each piece of equipment to a common ground terminal on my power supply. I do not have any ground from the station to the outside. Only the 3rd pin safety ground is in place. The station is fed from a common 240V 4 wire service for the amp and other related equipment. From the 240V 4 wire service, I break off with 2 duplex outlets on each line side. Thus the neutral and safety ground are common for the station. All efforts toward lightning protection are implemented outside of the house. This includes a driven ground system at the base of the tower next to the house and it is bonded outside of the house to the AC Mains ground. The lightning rod system on the roof is also bonded to the AC Mains ground. 73 Bob, K4TAX On 10/12/2018 11:47 AM, Leroy Buller wrote: Ok, I just rebuilt my station and wonder how many of you actually ground your K3 or your rig? I have the amp and tuner grounded, but I find grounding the K3 somewhat difficult. Why? Getting my fat ham fingers to the rear if the rig and tighting up the knurled knob with stiff wire is quite infuriating. All the connecting cables are in the way and it just trips my trigger. Then being able to reach over all the doodads and geegaws to attach ground is a frustration of mine. Many years ago it was good practice to use solid wire but now i see others using braid. Stiff wire adds to my frustration. So, for my mental health I would like some suggestions or ideas how best to deal with this. I know...suck it up. There has got to be a better way. Lee K0WA __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to rmcg...@blomand.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] Confessions of grounding
Ok, I just rebuilt my station and wonder how many of you actually ground your K3 or your rig? I have the amp and tuner grounded, but I find grounding the K3 somewhat difficult. Why? Getting my fat ham fingers to the rear if the rig and tighting up the knurled knob with stiff wire is quite infuriating. All the connecting cables are in the way and it just trips my trigger. Then being able to reach over all the doodads and geegaws to attach ground is a frustration of mine. Many years ago it was good practice to use solid wire but now i see others using braid. Stiff wire adds to my frustration. So, for my mental health I would like some suggestions or ideas how best to deal with this. I know...suck it up. There has got to be a better way. Lee K0WA __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
