[Elecraft] Ground Strap

[Sandy, W5TVW]

I have used copper flashing for YEARS!  Usually about 2-1/2 to 3" wide.
There have been many times onboard ship when, even though a transmitter
was bolted to a steel deck, copper strapping had to be added to "ground" the
transmitter to the overhead or an adjacent bulkhead and to the deck to get things
"cooled off".
After the advent of computer-like devices and terminals, these seemed
especially vulnerable to stray RF fields/signals!  Many times a piece of flashing was
routed from the radio console to the computer terminal on the insulated walls
of the space, and the interconnecting cabling run down the center of this to help
keep the RF out of the cabling.  Not to mention used of ferrite toroid "chokes"
in stubborn cases.

Flashing is much more durable and weather resistant than "braid".  The poorest
"braid" there is, if one MUST use braid, is that salvaged from short pieces of
RG-8/RG-58/RG-59 type coaxial cable.  There is 1/2" and wider braid
especially made for grounding, BUT it has gotten VERY expensive!

Flashing can be run almost anywhere and if bends or turns are needed, it can
be "folded over" on itself to negotiate, say a 90 degree turn on a wall.
Out of all the things we tried over the years, it has been most satisfactory.

Another item that can be used for "Grounding" and is VERY satisfactory at RF
frequencies is common copper water pipe.  The hard and soft varieties both, along
with their associated fittings to make turns and "tees".  1/2" is an excellent size
to use.  Very weather resistant.  At RF frequencies, it works as well as a solid
copper conductor the same size would work due to the "skin effect".  It IS
a bit more difficult to work with however.

73,
Sandy W5TVW