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question for those with towers/bearing/rotor

Whiplash-265

Active Member
Aug 14, 2011
280
17
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Ontario, Canada
hey all..

wondering if it's a good idea to attach a ground strap from the mast to the tower to help dissipate static electricity?
i'm assuming the bearing might contain some form of grease, as well as the rotor maybe also restricting the grounding effects in one way or another.....would it hurt to attach say 0ga from a section of the mast just about the rotor to one of the antenna legs (length allowing a 450 degree twist of course)?

thanx
 

It's not a bad idea but it won't help to dissipate static electricity but it may help in the event of a lightning strike on your tower. At least it will help bypass the rotator. If the mast is bolted into the rotator and the rotator is mounted in the tower then lightning energy will flow straight thru the rotator housing anyway. I would not use 0 ga as that is really heavy and stiff and will likely cause problems after some time and may eventually break from all the flexing. i would use large heavy flexible braid. My former tower had a heavy copper braid strap about an inch wide running from the top mounted antenna down to the top of the tower allowing for a full rotation of the mast. It is one of those not sure if it will help but it sure won't hurt kind of things to do.
 
thanx CK..

the 0ga i have is small strand and is pretty flexible. It's left over from power runs from a car stereo install (ergo, free lol). I'll def have a look at the braid tho, larger exterior surface. Prob couldn't hurt to run a couple pre rotor and hope for the best just in case :)

Much thanx sir.
 
I was thinking about 0 ga household power wire which is stiff. I know the kind you are talking about and it should be flexible enough to use. It almost feels like rope.
 
I have never done this on any tower. We don't do it on commercial radio installations.

That being said I have had some strikes in the area of my home, but all have taken out phone related equipment, such as DSL routers. Never had any ham equipment damaged by lightning. Not saying it can't happen, just has not happened to me in 47 years.

Your mileage may vary, though.
 
I was thinking about 0 ga household power wire which is stiff. I know the kind you are talking about and it should be flexible enough to use. It almost feels like rope.

Yessir, that's the stuff. Thanx, i'll give it a shot then :)


WA8ZYT

Ya, i'd prefer to take whatever precautions i can as my install is far from ideal. There's a few hundred things i know i should do, but at present i am unable so i shoot for the overkill on what i am able to deal with.
Fingers crossed it never happens, but that's when it usually does :D 73

Again, much thanx guys!!
 
Yessir, that's the stuff. Thanx, i'll give it a shot then :)


WA8ZYT

Ya, i'd prefer to take whatever precautions i can as my install is far from ideal. There's a few hundred things i know i should do, but at present i am unable so i shoot for the overkill on what i am able to deal with.
Fingers crossed it never happens, but that's when it usually does :D 73

Again, much thanx guys!!
Whip,
Remember Murphies Law? If you don't, it will, if you do, it won't.
 
Since the OP mentioned 450 degrees I am assuming he has a Yaesu rotator as most of them will do 450 degrees of rotation. If the rotator is mounted on Yeasu's torque arrestor unit it is effectively isolated from from the tower and in this case a strap bypassing the rotator unit is HIGHLY recommended. Just thought I would mention that.
 
yes to the Yaesu CK (nice catch :) ) G-1000_dxa
no to the torque arrestor as the load is well below specs
the bearing will be handling the weight and i'll only have one 4el yagi on it and possibly a vert (can't remember exact numbers off hand but when i did the math a couple of months ago i was below 25%)

appreciate the concern :)
 
yes to the Yaesu CK (nice catch :) ) G-1000_dxa
no to the torque arrestor as the load is well below specs
the bearing will be handling the weight and i'll only have one 4el yagi on it and possibly a vert (can't remember exact numbers off hand but when i did the math a couple of months ago i was below 25%)

appreciate the concern :)


I use a 48 ft delhi hd tower. Very good tower. I see you use one also.
 
I use a 48 ft delhi hd tower. Very good tower. I see you use one also.

Mine is the golden nugget Mr Clean, but i think i'm gonna look at upgrading it to a tilt or crank-up. Even after just one vertical re:re it's getting to be a pain w/o some form of a gin pole :) That, and i'll have to retrofit a plate for the rotor as the original "rotor plate" will used for the bearing (all the gn has is a hollow tube that they call it's bearing....not even close lol). The HD is a MUCH!!!! nicer tower. I'm sure you'll enjoy it for years and years to come.
 

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