the antenna Gods sure like to tease me... lol

[mr_fx]

So I finally and got my 'fan inverted L' up for 80m/160m... tied the cold water line into the radial/grounding system, got the 3 ground rods linked up, tied in the shed(aluminum) and the 2 car free standing garage, then continued the radials out from the garage, adding an additional 40ft and 80ft past the garage... the cold water line shows conductivity all the way to the shut off valve, and according to the guy that did work on the city water main in my area, he CLAIMS that the water line is hard metal all the way back, so that should help

I am considering strapping on to the natural gas line as it is also buried... why not?

80m needed a little tuning, 160m was WAY off, lol, I am talking broadcast band off

SO I figured I could tune the 80m aerial in the dark...

got it close...

3.5 = 1.1 SWR
3.6 = 1.0
3.7 = 1.0
3.6 = 1.0
3.7 = 1.2
3.8 = 1.35
3.9 = 1.6
4.0 = 2.5

So I figured I would lower it ONE MORE TIME... it got snagged and snapped the tie off line... and the wire came crashing down...

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

I would just like to send out a BIG GIANT smelly fart in he general direction of the antenna gods

 

[wavrider]

Low band verticals are GREAT dx antennas, mostly 160 and 80 meters are used during the winter months.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

I am considering strapping on to the natural gas line as it is also buried... why not?

NEVER NEVER NEVER USE A GAS LINE AS PART OF YOUR GROUND SYSTEM OR ANY PART OF YOUR ANTENNA SYSTEM!! Doing so causes electrical currents to flow through the line and this poses a potential risk of fire or explosion especially if lightning should occur.

 

[kd-5-bgt]

I agree with CK....NEVER use a gas line as a ground for ANYTHING.....should something go wrong or get a lightening strike you could very well find yourself picking up your station from all over the area you live in,or find yourself scattered all over the area you used to live in

 

[binrat]

Ground to gas line = receptient of the Darwin Award.

 

[Once Bitten]

This might help!
Is Gas Pipe Grounding Legal? | Code Basics content from Electrical Construction & Maintenance (EC&M) Magazine

 

[TonyV225]

NEVER NEVER NEVER USE A GAS LINE AS PART OF YOUR GROUND SYSTEM OR ANY PART OF YOUR ANTENNA SYSTEM!! Doing so causes electrical currents to flow through the line and this poses a potential risk of fire or explosion especially if lightning should occur.

The first thing I thought of was lighting, Also this is why cold water pipes are used and not hot water pipes. This is because hot water heaters either are gas or electric Gas = explosion and electric = possible extra troubles of its own.

 

[mr_fx]

hahahaha... yeah had considered the possibilities on he gas line... however there are a few ham websites that recommend it... I even know an old ham that has and is still doing it... he CLAIMS that the electricity, or whatever, will NOT enter the pipe, but rather run along he outside of the pipe and straight to ground as that is the simplest path for it to take... under normal circumstances I would gu ess this might be true... maybe, BUT even if it is, which I am certainly not saying that it is, BUT even if it is, my thought is, lightning is a whole 'nother ball game...

that being said, I am not willing to risk it...

 

[mr_fx]

well the antenna is back up, took about 25 mins to tune. The 80 is near vertical, and the 160 is in an inverted L configuration... made a couple contacts on 80m, the first guy said I was little weak, but then he mentioned he was on 1kw, he said I sounded fine for a barefoot station

so far seems like a huge improvement over my hill billy antenna...

results:

Freq SWR
1.80 = 1.6
1.85 = 1.1
1.90 = 1.0
1.95 = 1.4
2.00 = 1.6

3.50 = 2.1
3.60 = 1.4
3.70 = 1.0
3.80 = 1.0
3.90 = 1.1
4.00 = 1.7

 

[mr_fx]

This might help!
Is Gas Pipe Grounding Legal? | Code Basics content from Electrical Construction & Maintenance (EC&M) Magazine

Good read it explains a lot, thank you

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

hahahaha... yeah had considered the possibilities on he gas line... however there are a few ham websites that recommend it... I even know an old ham that has and is still doing it... he CLAIMS that the electricity, or whatever, will NOT enter the pipe, but rather run along he outside of the pipe and straight to ground as that is the simplest path for it to take... under normal circumstances I would gu ess this might be true... maybe, BUT even if it is, which I am certainly not saying that it is, BUT even if it is, my thought is, lightning is a whole 'nother ball game...

that being said, I am not willing to risk it...

Please show us some links to those sites or tell us what they are. They are not only wrong but are recommending an illegal practice. As for the guy you know that does it, show him the article above regarding the NEC and tell him he is in violation of the electrical code. if he has any damage he may well have a problem getting any insurance money. If he fails to listen to you, tell his wife. He has to live with her and I am sure she will have lots to say.

 

[jazzsinger]

hahahaha... yeah had considered the possibilities on he gas line... however there are a few ham websites that recommend it.

that being said, I am not willing to risk it...

Smart Guy:

Firstly there's no shortage of bad advice out there, secondly your smarter than the guys your reading from as your not willing to RISK stupidity like that.so follow your instinct, its serving you well, there's a good reason rf isn't allowed in petrol/gas stations,I think the same reasoning would be the same with gas pipes,major no no, it's CRAZY to risk either as both are highly volatile chemicals that one tiny spark could trigger never mind a lightning strike, which will just about cremate anythin in its path.

Cold water pipe generally has the mains earthing attached, if there's a break in the mains to ground and one of your appliances shorted to ground, it would leave your groundline seriously high above 0v potential and in extreme cases could be fatal as everything you attached will be above ground potential.a remote and rare case but worth noting.

Best solution is if you must have a grounding system,be it for draining static (about the only purpose most cb/ham installs would deal with) or acting like an extremely fast blow fuse to lightning unless you use mega heavy/mega expensive grounding systems professionals use, is to make your own following the relevent authorities in your state/federal laws to the letter,otherwise you could actually make things much worse than having no earth at all.

It's your life mate, you only get one, and I admire your acute sense of impending gloom,as CK says the sooner those putting out dangerous advice are closed down the better. You have to bare in mind about 85 - 90 % of amateurs are exactly that, whereas with CK he may be an amateur in hobby radio but he's a professional in broadcast transmitters and so are a few others and in my opinion although many of those guys like the amateur tag as it reminds them of their early days its a pretty insulting term in the 10 - 15% of guys who genuinely know wtf they are talking about,

I myself am neither amateur or professional,just a keen hobbyist with an eye for learning and detail, but I have a keen knack for sniffing out bullshit and having witnessed a gas boiler explosion at a very young age that almost killed my mother right in front of me (not a pretty sight)I recommend you listen to the guys with professional knowledge and not the 80 odd percent suffering delusions of grandeur.of those remaining 80% about 20% if your lucky will learn, the rest are so steeped in myth and bullshit not to mention the problem of their own ego's and the fact their mouths don't stop long enough for their eyes and ears to process anything useful, they will never learn.
Good luck!