[Elecraft] K3S proper grounding?

[Fred Townsend]

Gerry there is NO one size fits all grounding solution. As Don suggests you
are really dealing with four grounding systems. Your RF or rig ground, a
lightning ground, your NEC or house power ground (neutral), and finally the
safety ground (green wire) ground which is really part of the NEC ground.
Often the requirements of one system will be at odds with other grounding
requirements. For instance you generally want a high impedance for RFI
issues and a very low impedance for lightning grounds.  One system defeats
the other so they really need to be separate systems. 
Your NEC and lightning grounds have very serious safety issues so running
your proposed wiring changes by your local power company can often be very
helpful. Most power companies have an expert on such issues although the
existence of such a person is often a closely held secret. 
73
Fred, AE6QL

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm
Sent: Saturday, September 26, 2015 12:08 PM
To: ae4pb at carolinaheli.com; elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3S proper grounding?

Your grounding plan sounds fine, *if* and only if you connect that separate
ground rod to the utility entrance ground rod using a #6 or #4 copper wire -
that wire should be buried several inches and run outside your dwelling
foundation.
That connection is a NEC requirement and is necessary for safety. All ground
rods *must* be connected together unless they are more than 100 feet apart.

You cannot create an RF ground by connecting to a ground rod.  It is only
for AC safety and a measure of lightning protection.

OCF antennas can be difficult to tame for RF in the shack.  Use of a very
good quality common mode choke at the feedpoint (in addition to the
4:1 balun) may help.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 9/26/2015 1:41 PM, ae4pb at carolinaheli.com wrote:
> 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.
>
>

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