Ground - Revision history

TheAnarcat: link to wp

2010-10-04T02:12:39Z

link to wp

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	A ground is a fundamental part of a properly equipped [[station]]. Without a ground, you are at risk of damaging your equipment or worse, causing physical harm to people around the device as a radio station changes the way your inhouse electric circuit behaves in case of a lightning strike.		A ground is a fundamental part of a properly equipped [[station]]. Without a ground, you are at risk of damaging your equipment or worse, causing physical harm to people around the device as a radio station changes the way your inhouse electric circuit behaves in case of a lightning strike.

			''Main article: [[Wikipedia:Ground (electricity)]]''

	{{safety}}		{{safety}}

TheAnarcat at 02:09, 4 October 2010

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	=== Cold water pipes ===		=== Cold water pipes ===

	Cold water pipes can act as a ground rod in some places. Note that in some cases, the cold water pipe system is actually connected to the house power supply ground, ~~so it can't really be used as a separate ground~~. They should ~~generally~~ be avoided ~~if you can, especially~~ if you are far away from the actual ground.		Cold water pipes can act as a ground rod in some places. Note that in some cases, the cold water pipe system is actually connected to the house power supply ground, the phone system, or the cabling system or whatnot... So unless you know that nothing else is connected to the cold water pipes, you should consider another solution. They should also be avoided if you are far away from the actual ground.

	=== Ground rods ===		=== Ground rods ===
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	The above is just a collection of advice found on various websites. It is '''not''' the conclusions of a professional electrician or the results of a scientific study. Do not put your life on the line and consult with a professional if you are unsure about this.		The above is just a collection of advice found on various websites. It is '''not''' the conclusions of a professional electrician or the results of a scientific study. Do not put your life on the line and consult with a professional if you are unsure about this.

			In general, you should avoid [[operating in a thunderstorm]]! Disconnect all equipment and leave the shack!

	== External links ==		== External links ==

TheAnarcat: /* External links */

2010-10-04T02:04:22Z

External links

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	* [http://www.arrl.org/grounding-q-a ARRL grounding Q&A]		* [http://www.arrl.org/grounding-q-a ARRL grounding Q&A]
	* [http://www.arrl.org/lightning-protection Excellent serie from the ARRL on how to completely ground a station safely]		* [http://www.arrl.org/lightning-protection Excellent serie from the ARRL on how to completely ground a station safely]
			* [http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/128040.pdf Antennas and grounds in appartments] (PDF)
	* [http://www.eham.net/articles/8951 Controversial article trying to tone down the usual warnings about grounding]		* [http://www.eham.net/articles/8951 Controversial article trying to tone down the usual warnings about grounding]
	* [http://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Technical_Reference/Grounding/ Directory of ground resources at dxzone.com]		* [http://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Technical_Reference/Grounding/ Directory of ground resources at dxzone.com]

TheAnarcat at 01:51, 4 October 2010

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	* [[Regulations]]		* [[Regulations]]
	* [[Safety]]

TheAnarcat at 01:51, 4 October 2010

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	A ground is a fundamental part of a properly equipped [[station]]. Without a ground, you are at risk of damaging your equipment or worse, causing physical harm to people around the device as a radio station changes the way your inhouse electric circuit behaves in case of a lightning strike.		A ground is a fundamental part of a properly equipped [[station]]. Without a ground, you are at risk of damaging your equipment or worse, causing physical harm to people around the device as a radio station changes the way your inhouse electric circuit behaves in case of a lightning strike.

	{{~~safetywarning~~}}		{{safety}}

	== Different types of grounds ==		== Different types of grounds ==

TheAnarcat at 01:49, 4 October 2010

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	So unless you have absolutely no chance of being hit by lightning (ie. you have no antenna or you are inside a house, and even then: lightning can strike at power poles), you will need a '''station ground''' that is ''separated from the electric supply ground''.		So unless you have absolutely no chance of being hit by lightning (ie. you have no antenna or you are inside a house, and even then: lightning can strike at power poles), you will need a '''station ground''' that is ''separated from the electric supply ground''.

			Also note that an '''RF ground''' may be necessary even if you have a balanced antenna system (with a [[balun]] for example), because equipment can fail and then RF is driven back to the shack.

	== Building a station ground ==		== Building a station ground ==

TheAnarcat at 01:45, 4 October 2010

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	* [http://www.arrl.org/lightning-protection Excellent serie from the ARRL on how to completely ground a station safely]		* [http://www.arrl.org/lightning-protection Excellent serie from the ARRL on how to completely ground a station safely]
	* [http://www.eham.net/articles/8951 Controversial article trying to tone down the usual warnings about grounding]		* [http://www.eham.net/articles/8951 Controversial article trying to tone down the usual warnings about grounding]
			* [http://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Technical_Reference/Grounding/ Directory of ground resources at dxzone.com]

	== See also ==		== See also ==

TheAnarcat at 01:42, 4 October 2010

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	# '''Satefy ground''' - to protect against defects in your transceiver that may leak energy even though it's power plug is grounded		# '''Satefy ground''' - to protect against defects in your transceiver that may leak energy even though it's power plug is grounded
	# '''Lightning ground''' - to protect against lightning strikes on the antenna ''or'' the electricity supply		# '''Lightning ground''' - to protect against lightning strikes on the antenna ''or'' the electricity supply
	# '''RF ground''' - to ~~properly install special~~ antennas ~~that require a ground~~		# '''RF ground''' - to protect against RF radiations coming back in the shack with unbalanced antennas

	A '''safety ground''' (the outside ground lead of your transceiver, for example) ''can'' be connected to the electric supply ground of your house.		A '''safety ground''' (the outside ground lead of your transceiver, for example) ''can'' be connected to the electric supply ground of your house.
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	=== Cold water pipes ===		=== Cold water pipes ===

	Cold water pipes can act as a ground rod, ~~as long as~~ the house power supply ~~isn~~'t ~~also connected there. (Hint: talk to your electrician if it's so, that's not supposed to happen~~.) They should generally be avoided if you can, especially if you are far away from the actual ground.		Cold water pipes can act as a ground rod in some places. Note that in some cases, the cold water pipe system is actually connected to the house power supply ground, so it can't really be used as a separate ground. They should generally be avoided if you can, especially if you are far away from the actual ground.

	=== Ground rods ===		=== Ground rods ===
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	Some have taken the approach of simply not creating a '''lightning ground''' in their shack and simply work with a '''safety ground''', which can be an acceptable compromise in certain conditions. For example, marine, space or aerial stations can't have a proper ground at all. Another example is people in apartment buildings where they can't even deploy an antenna in the first place.		Some have taken the approach of simply not creating a '''lightning ground''' in their shack and simply work with a '''safety ground''', which can be an acceptable compromise in certain conditions. For example, marine, space or aerial stations can't have a proper ground at all. Another example is people in apartment buildings where they can't even deploy an antenna in the first place.

			== Final words on safety ==

			The above is just a collection of advice found on various websites. It is '''not''' the conclusions of a professional electrician or the results of a scientific study. Do not put your life on the line and consult with a professional if you are unsure about this.

	== External links ==		== External links ==

TheAnarcat at 01:29, 4 October 2010

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	A ground plate is also a valid ground. It's a plate of copper-clad steel or plain copper made of a 30cm per 30cm square, buried 45cm below the soil.		A ground plate is also a valid ground. It's a plate of copper-clad steel or plain copper made of a 30cm per 30cm square, buried 45cm below the soil.

			== Binding the grouds ==

			'''Safety''', '''lightning''' or '''RF grounds''' need to be connected together or ''bound'' securely together, as close possible to the ground. This avoids [[ground loops]] which can cause hum or interference, and will ensure all points of the station ground will be at the same potential when a lightning strike occurs.

	== Connecting to the station ground ==		== Connecting to the station ground ==

TheAnarcat at 01:18, 4 October 2010

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	A ground is a fundamental part of a properly equipped [[station]]. Without a ground, you are at risk of damaging your equipment or worse, causing physical harm to people around the device as a radio station changes the way your inhouse electric circuit behaves in case of a lightning strike.		A ground is a fundamental part of a properly equipped [[station]]. Without a ground, you are at risk of damaging your equipment or worse, causing physical harm to people around the device as a radio station changes the way your inhouse electric circuit behaves in case of a lightning strike.

			{{safetywarning}}

	== Different types of grounds ==		== Different types of grounds ==
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	# '''RF ground''' - to properly install special antennas that require a ground		# '''RF ground''' - to properly install special antennas that require a ground

	~~Here we will consider a '''station ground''' as covering both the needs of a~~ '''safety~~''' and '''lightning~~ ground'''~~. A safety ground~~ (the outside of your transceiver, for example) ''can'' be connected to the electric supply ground of your house~~, but to keep things safe and avoid confusion, we will not connect your station ground to the electric supply~~.		A '''safety ground''' (the outside ground lead of your transceiver, for example) ''can'' be connected to the electric supply ground of your house.

	~~Also note that~~ lightning protection can be done through the installation of surge protectors, but it is still important to connect your station to a separate ~~safety~~ ground.		A '''lightning ground''' should '''not''' be connected to the electric supply ground, however. It should be connected to a separate, '''station ground'''. Lightning protection can be done through the installation of surge protectors, but it is still important to connect your station to a separate station ground.

	~~== What a~~ ground is ~~not ==~~		A '''RF ground''' should '''not''' be connected to the electric supply ground either. This is because the electric supply ground is longer and will start behaving as an antenna if it is a quarter of the wavelength, or a multiple of a quarter wavelength, of the frequency you are operating with.

	~~A ground is~~ '''~~not~~''' ~~the regular electric supply ground: you need a separate ground~~ that is ~~not connected to your~~ electric supply ground.		So unless you have absolutely no chance of being hit by lightning (ie. you have no antenna or you are inside a house, and even then: lightning can strike at power poles), you will need a '''station ground''' that is ''separated from the electric supply ground''.

	~~You should '''not''' use~~ a station ground ~~as an RF ground (''but'' you can use an RF ground as a station ground). Those are two different things for two different purposes.~~		== Building a station ground ==

	~~== Building~~ a ~~proper~~ ground ==		A proper station ground will be a ground that is not connected to the electric power supply and close enough to your station to not emit RF (if you need a RF ground).

	A proper station ground will be a copper strip that runs through your station's rigs and serves as a tie point for the ground leads of all radio equipment within your [[shack]]. That station ground is then connected to a non-electric supply ground. Such a ground may be a metallic cold water pipe (not plastic, not hot water!) or better yet, a custom-made ground rod, connected through a gage 6 or smaller (gage, not size).		Such a ground may be a metallic cold water pipe (not plastic, not hot water!) or better yet, a custom-made ground rod, connected through a gage 6 or smaller (gage, not size).

	=== Cold water pipes ===		=== Cold water pipes ===

	Cold water pipes can act as a ground rod, as long as the house power supply isn't also connected there. (Hint: talk to your electrician if it's so, that's not supposed to happen.)		Cold water pipes can act as a ground rod, as long as the house power supply isn't also connected there. (Hint: talk to your electrician if it's so, that's not supposed to happen.) They should generally be avoided if you can, especially if you are far away from the actual ground.

	=== Ground rods ===		=== Ground rods ===

	A ground rod is made of copper-clad or plain copper steel. It should generally be driven into the soil at least 10 feet (3.25m).		A ground rod is made of copper-clad or plain copper steel. It should generally be driven into the soil at least 10 feet (3.25m). It is best if a network of ground rods is laid out, and that all ground rods are connected together. Consult the [http://www.arrl.org/lightning-protection lightning protection articles of the ARRL] or [http://www.w8ji.com/station_ground.htm w8ji's documentation] to build such a setup.

	=== Ground plates ===		=== Ground plates ===
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	A ground plate is also a valid ground. It's a plate of copper-clad steel or plain copper made of a 30cm per 30cm square, buried 45cm below the soil.		A ground plate is also a valid ground. It's a plate of copper-clad steel or plain copper made of a 30cm per 30cm square, buried 45cm below the soil.

	== Connecting to the ground ==		== Connecting to the station ground ==

	~~As mentioned above~~, ~~the~~ station ~~ground itself is~~ a braided, 14-gage ~~copper strip~~ that runs within ~~the~~ [[shack]]. You can use the braid from spare RG-8/U coax if you have extra.		Now that you have a real secondary ground close by, you need to connect your station's equipment to it. This can be done with a braided copper strip (at least 14-gage) that runs through your station's rigs and serves as a tie point for the ground leads of all radio equipment within your [[shack]]. You can use the braid from spare RG-8/U coax if you have extra.

	The station ground needs to be connected directly to the ground built above, and that connexion must be as short as possible. If the ground is a quarter of the wavelength or an odd number multiple of the quarter wavelength, ~~it will start emitting RF energy and~~ can cause severe ~~burn~~.		The station ground needs to be connected directly to the station ground built above, and that connexion must be as short as possible. If this is a RF ground, it will start behaving like an antenna if the distance to the station ground is a quarter of the wavelength, or an odd number multiple of the quarter wavelength, your station is operating at. This can cause severe burns, [[harmful interference]] and other havoc so it should be avoided at all cost.

	It is therefore a challenge to connect your ground properly for anybody building a station on the second floor or similar higher ground.		It is therefore a challenge to connect your ground properly for anybody building a station on the second floor or similar higher ground.

			Some have taken the approach of simply not creating a '''lightning ground''' in their shack and simply work with a '''safety ground''', which can be an acceptable compromise in certain conditions. For example, marine, space or aerial stations can't have a proper ground at all. Another example is people in apartment buildings where they can't even deploy an antenna in the first place.

	== External links ==		== External links ==
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	* [http://www.arrl.org/lightning-protection Excellent serie from the ARRL on how to completely ground a station safely]		* [http://www.arrl.org/lightning-protection Excellent serie from the ARRL on how to completely ground a station safely]
	* [http://www.eham.net/articles/8951 Controversial article trying to tone down the usual warnings about grounding]		* [http://www.eham.net/articles/8951 Controversial article trying to tone down the usual warnings about grounding]

			== See also ==

			* [[Regulations]]
			* [[Safety]]