[Elecraft] Grounding negative side of power supply?

[Jim Brown]

On Tue, 20 Apr 2010 06:31:04 -0400, Tom W8JI wrote:

>I'm not so sure we aren't getting carried away with our own 
>interpretation of NEC rules here. We also have to apply a 
>little technical "common sense" to our systems.

>I have antennas and towers scatter over thousands of feet 
>distance. It would be totally worthless and physically 
>impossible to bond the ground rods on my antennas to my 
>mains ground. The additional protection to my house and 
>equipment, and to people, would be zero.

Exactly. My interpretation is that NEC requires the bonding of 
the shack, and coax entry points with power system ground and all 
other grounds directly associated with the house, AND with a 
tower physically attached to or very close to the house, but NOT 
with a remotely located antenna or tower.  

My 120 ft tower is about 250 ft from the shack and 120 ft from 
the house, and is well grounded at its base. It's surrounded by 
several dozen redwoods, about half of which are at least 40 ft 
taller. I've never considered bonding it to either structure, and 
I wouldn't treat it differently even if the trees weren't there. 

73,

Jim K9YC