[Elecraft] What Guage Wire for PS?

Mon Apr 1 19:51:11 2002

Hi Stuart,

A star ground is nice in theory but not always achieved in practice since AC power, DC power, RF, audio, keys, digital
connections to computers, etc. all share a common ground.  For example, if the computer connected to a rig is grounded
through it's power supply and the station 13.8 V power supply is grounded then you have a ground loop. One side of your
antenna may be connected to lightning ground which should be bonded to the shack's AC power ground...another loop.  If
you ground the chassis of all major station components to a ground buss connected to earth ground you have more loops.
Add an external DSP, powered antenna tuner, or even some illuminated power meters and you've added yet more loops. In
mobile setups the rig power is connected to the minus side of the battery but so is the shield of the feedline via its
connection to the sheet metal and/or chassis of the vehicle at the antenna. DC return currents can flow through all of
these paths.

Lou W7DZN

----- Original Message -----
From: "Stuart Rohre" <[email protected]>
To: "lhlousek" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, April 01, 2002 4:26 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] What Guage Wire for PS?

> The RIG should be the central point where DC return, earth ground, and
> antenna shield or second conductor meet.  A star ground situation. The DC
> path, should NOT travel over or depend on the other two.  That is an
> invitation to RF feedback problems.  The earth ground would typically not be
> needed in many portable operations, unless you were dealing with a long and
> high antenna that develops static charge.
>
> 73,
> Stuart K5KVH