[Elecraft] I need some grounding-strap guidance, if'n you please

[Don Wilhelm]

Tom,

It is not only *best* to connect the two grounds, it is *required* by 
electrical code.  If a knowledgeable electrical inspector should notice 
the two unconnected grounds, he should properly fail the inspection.

I would recommend a perimeter copper ground wire (#6 or preferably #4) 
all around the building - that is not hard to do in new construction.  
Put the wire 2 to 3 feet down and one to two feet away from the 
foundation before the foundation is backfilled (hold the wire 
temporarily in place with 6 inch long wire staples).
In addition to this wire, drive a ground rod (drive it, do not bury it) 
at each corner or place where the wire must make a significant turn - 
lightning likes to follow a straight path, so dissipate a bit of it in 
the ground rod when the wire makes a turn.

The principle is that a lightning surge traveling through the earth will 
tend to follow the wire rather than punching a hole through the foundation.

At whatever point along the path where the electrical mains ground rod 
is placed, you can connect your perimeter wire to it.
Incidently, the best bonding of ground rods and grounding wires is a 
CAD-WELD system and the whole thing can be below ground out of the way 
of the lawn mower.  I have chosen to clamp mine, and the tops of the 
ground rods are about 6 inches high, but I can periodically check all 
the clamps for tightness.   I placed a loop of wire through the clamps, 
so the perimeter loop is continuous.

73,
Don W3FPR

NG3V wrote:
> Well, I guess I need some advice here as well.
>
> I had not considered the problem of different grounds.  I am building a
> house, now, where the electrical wiring will come in at one end of the house
> while my radio room is 70 feet away, at the other end.  I had planned on a
> separate grounding system at the radio room.
>
> Would it be best to connect the two grounds?  If so, how would be the best
> way to do that?
>
> Or, should I have the electrical wiring come in at the same end of the house
> as the radio room, thus eliminating "two separate grounds"?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tom
>   
>