[Elecraft] grounding K2

[Don Wilhelm]

Scott,

There is no need to ground the K2 (or any other RF generator).  It will NOT
help with RF in the shack.  The place to reduce RF in the shack is at the
antenna.

A generator (K2 in this case) with a coax output will contain its RF output
to the center conductor of the coax and the INSIDE of the coax braid - the
coax outer braid will have no RF on it.

The problem comes when the coax is attached to something - like an antenna,
or a tuner.  At that end the RF can couple back onto the outside of the coax
as common mode current, and may be conducted into your shack.  Baluns can
help reduce this common mode current if the balun is a current type balun.
A coil of coax or the W2DU type balun (ferrite beads over the coax) work
well as either baluns or 'line isolators', and if properly applied to the
antenna system can eliminate RF in the shack.  An RF ground at the balun,
isolator or tuner may prove useful, but is not needed at the generator
(because it does not PRODUCE RF on the outside of the coax).

A tuner in the antenna system might be grounded to provide a path for the
common mode current, and the KAT2, KPA100 and KAT100 do provide grounding
lugs.

73,
Don W3FPR

> -----Original Message-----
>
> HI
> All the other HF radios that I have had over the years have had
> grounding posts on them. My K2 doesn't. Should it not be grounded?
> Seems to me it would be a lot less likely to have RF in the shack if
> it was grounded, but where would it be attached? Is anyone grounding
> theirs and if so where are you attaching the wire?
> Thanks
> Scott N5SM
> and it so
>
>
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