[Elecraft] K3S proper grounding?

[Bob McGraw - K4TAX]

Is a Direct TV / satellite  receiver involved?   I have experienced RF 
getting into the Direct TV / satellite receiver causing it to change 
channels, turn on and off, and reset.  It is the fact you are radiating 
RF which is the desired intention and this RF is getting into the 
"plastic box" of the receiver.  Plus many of these receivers use RF 
Remote control as opposed to IR Remote control.

If it is just the TV that is turning on and off, I suggest putting 
common mode chokes on the AC power cord at the TV and also on any other 
inputs or outputs at the TV.  This also could be an issue where the TV 
Remote control is a RF Remote as opposed to a IR remote.  I've found 
these RF Remote receivers have basically no selectivity and any RF close 
by will or can cause issues.

Your roof mounted mast should have a ground positioned as close as 
practical.   A driven rod is required.   Use #6 copper from the roof 
mast to the ground rod with suitable clamps.  Straight runs preferred 
with large radius bends if and where needed, otherwise no sharp bends. 
    Also some form of lightning protection is needed at the point or 
before the feed line(s) enters the house.  This can be attached to the 
same ground system.

Now here's the kick in the pants..........this ground rod must be bonded 
back to the AC Mains ground and this needs to occur outside of the house 
even if it means running 50 ft or more of copper between the two 
grounds.  This is per NEC.  I trenched mine in about 6" deep around the 
foundation.

All of my feed lines and rotor control lines enter the house at an eve 
vent, traverse across the attic and drop down through the ceiling to the 
operating position.  My lightning protection is at the point the feed 
lines exit the tower adjacent to the house.   I do not have any ground 
from the station operating position to the outside world.  I only use 
3rd pin safety ground.   Use dedicated jumpers between each piece of 
equipment to the common power supply ground terminal.  Do not daisy 
chain pieces of equipment.   I make my ground jumpers using #10 auto 
primary wire with suitable crimp lugs attached on each end.

You may also need to place a common mode choke on the feed line near or 
at the radio.  This can be the coax jumper between the radio ANT and the 
SWR/Pwr meter or input to the external ATU.

Running only 100 watts, I'd think the #8 ga power feed from the breaker 
panel is way over-kill.   I's spend my money on copper in other places. 
    Just run a dedicated 20 amp service.  If you install a ground rod 
outside of the shack, this rod must be bonded outside of the house back 
to the main AC Mains driven ground as well.

Finding the problem and applying the proper solution is the challenge.  
Throwing random solutions around likely cost money and won't produce 
results.   Just remember that grounding is a defined system and done 
correctly will protect not only the structure but the equipment.  Yet 
grounding not properly done can be extremely dangerous.

73
Bob, K4TAX
K3S s/n 10,163


On 9/26/2015 12:41 PM, ae4pb at carolinaheli.com wrote:
> On 40m my TV turns off and on by itself when I transmit. I'm thinking that
> it's related to grounding because I've not figured that out yet. I have a
> roof mounted mast that holds my dipole. The coax comes down through the
> roof, routes through the attic down inside the wall to the station. I've
> been told I need to ground the feedline BEFORE it enters the house but I'm
> not sure how to get a ground correctly up to the roof. No matter how I run
> the ground a lightning strike would likely ignite my house inside the attic
> if I run it inside the house. I have a low pass filter installed just
> before/after the Rig.
>
>   
>
> The plan I'm thinking of so far.
>
> 1.   Run an 8 gauge dedicated power feeder from my main panel (on the
> opposite side of the house) to the shack with a 20A breaker. The 8Ga is to
> lower ground losses.
>
> 2.   Install a ground rod outside my shack and run a heavy gauge to the
> shack to bond with the dedicated power line ground.
>
> 3.   Ground all gear in the shack to the dedicated power ground.
>
> 4.   ?? maybe do a run of 14-2 romex with all three leads bonded together up
> to the mast, install a mast antenna switch and ground it with the 14-2.
>
> Thoughts /comments?
>
>   
>
> Running only 100w into a Buckmaster 7 Band OCF dipole at 35' per the
> instructions. The dipole is broadside to 45 degrees for EU coverage.
>
>   
>
> Thanks in advance. I've read A LOT on grounding but haven't seen this
> scenario covered.