[Boatanchors] new Ground system

Thu, 14 Mar 2002 11:36:54 -0500

You will indeed have a "crappy ground"!  But not for the reasons that might
seem apparent. Problem is it is too long a run. You would be much better off
making many shorter runs with the same amount of wire that you would make one
long run with. With a long run the impedance of the wire gets so high that it
becomes almost useless as you go out farther.

Many short runs in a radial terminating at a common point makes the best ground
system for both rf and lightning. Remember that lightning needs to be treated
like an rf signal as far as grounding goes.

As far as stranded wire verses solid wire for ground leads, either is fine. The
only disadvantage of stranded wire outside is that it needs to be protected
from corroding. Once it corrodes you will never be able to get it clean again
to make a proper connection.

73
Gary  K4FMX

John Page wrote:

>      I have heard the expression that "more is not always better". But in
> the case of a ground system, I think more is "always" better. I with I had
> that much wire in the ground. Go for it. It sounds great.
>      Gives me an idea. I have a small creek the runs about 75 feet from the
> basement window where my shack is. I might lay a wire across the yard and
> then I could just lay a long run in the creek.
>      Of course the wire to the creek will run right through our leach bed
> for the septic system. That begs the question, will I then have a "crappy
> ground"  :-\.     John
>
> >From: [email protected]
> >To: [email protected]
> >Subject: [Boatanchors] new Ground system
> >Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2002 09:01:54 -0700
> >
> >My back yard is all torn up with little trenches for a new sprinkler
> >system.  One of the legs comes directly towards the window in my radio
> >room.  As i don't have to do any digging (wire will be about 6" down)
> >i'd like to place a ground system in there with the plastic pipe.  'Bout
> >the best size wire i've available for the trenches is #14 bare copper.
> >How about from the shack to the ground rod outside?  I've got a chunk of
> >"00" but i think i recall folks saying that solid material was better
> >than stranded.
> >
> >I think with all the trenches i should be able to get a couple hundred
> >feet of wire in the ground and hope that it will improve my
> >"radioability" considerably.
> >
> >Comments, suggestions?
> >
> >Thanks in advance to all the experts around for the assistance.
> >
> >Larry
> >W0OGH
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Boatanchors mailing list
> >[email protected]
> >http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/boatanchors
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:
> http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx
>
> _______________________________________________
> Boatanchors mailing list
> [email protected]
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/boatanchors