WorldwideDX Amateur Radio Forums

You need to get that ground rod connected to the ground at the main electrical panel. Otherwise your equipment will become a jumper between the two grounds. Current will flow through the two and damage is quite possible.

For the actual antenna, isn't the NEC recommendation a 14ga wire to ground?? It simply bleeds off the static charge to prevent the antenna from being hit in the first place??

Commonly used at broadcast and other commercial installations is 3-inch wide copper strap used to bond equipment. The antenna lines are bonded to the tower at the top and bottom (sometimes midway too). The lines should be bonded to the building AC ground before going to the equipment. Flexible 1-inch braid is good for connecting between the transmission lines and the ground strap.

Some manufacturers also suggest quarter wave shorted transmission lines as added protection. For CB, get yourself a Tee connector. It gets placed along your transmission line somewhere. On the third output connect a 6 foot piece of RG58 or RG8 cable with the far end shorted and soldered together. It will ensure the entire antenna is placed at DC ground.

If you dig a small hole-(just about six inches deep) and fill it with water, then put your ground rod in the center of the hole and work it up and down. Keep the hole filled with water and you can sink the ground rod to depth by hand!
I didn't believe it either but after setting a eight foot copper rod through clay, I was amazed!
Try it you'll like it!

I have all my radio equipment grounded to this rod as well!
Good luck!

I hope you bonded that ground rod back to your AC ground rod as well.

"For CB, get yourself a Tee connector. It gets placed along your transmission line somewhere. On the third output connect a 6 foot piece of RG58 or RG8 cable with the far end shorted and soldered together. It will ensure the entire antenna is placed at DC ground."

can you explain how that works a little more please ?
and how does that not act like a needle stuck in the coax ?

also , what's your opinion of Morgan’s M-300 Series arrestors ?
http://www.morganmfg.us/radio-produc...ors-arrestors/

thanks .

This may be lame but in a way it is tied in!
All my equipment is earth grounded through the third plug on the cords!
Before I get thrashed for that comment, I am going to add a couple more rods and bond everything together including the electric company's rod!
My problem is that the electric company's ground rod is on the other side of the house which is about seventy-five too eighty five ft away from my antenna and rods!

I'm going to hazard a guess they are using the "tee" and shorted coax when the radio is disconnected...basically shorting the shield and center to ground outside the shack.