[Elecraft] Elecraft] best grounding technique

[Bob McGraw]

I suppose one should initially define "best" .    I take the approach 
that the NEC code is to be followed under any and all conditions.

As to general station configuration I refer you to the work of Jim 
Brown, K9YC.  He has done extensive work and produced publications on 
the topic.    He advocates the LINKING approach also known as daisy 
chain connection to a common ground point. With each ground conductor 
having a few milliohms of resistance, we find total resistance is the 
sum of the individual resistances.   R total = R1 + R2  + R3 + ...........

I prefer to use the FAN approach or STAR ground system. The station 
power supply ground is the common point for each piece of station 
equipment to be connected with a dedicated ground conductor.  With each 
ground conductor connected to a common point we then find the total 
resistance is resistors in parallel.  R total = R1*R2/R1 + R2  or

R total = 1/ [(1/r1) +(1/r2) + (1/r3)]......... In this case the total R 
is less than that of the lowest value resistance present.

Just be sure all feed lines and rotor lines have lightning protection 
devices on each one and they are outside of the house. Any driven ground 
MUST be bonded to the AC Mains ground for the service.   This is a 
requirement of the NEC.

73

Bob, K4TAX


Message: 15

Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2021 21:06:47 +0000

From: Robert G Strickland <rcrgs at verizon.net>

To: Elecraft Reflector <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>

Subject: [Elecraft] best grounding technique

Message-ID: <60551267.4000301 at verizon.net>

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It seems that there are two ways of running grounding wires in the 
shack: FAN - from a common ground point, individual grounding wires are 
run to each piece of equipment; LINKING - a ground wire is run from each 
piece of equipment to the next and eventually ending in a common ground 
point. What's the group wisdom on the relative merits of these two 
approaches to running grounds in the shack? ...robert

-- Robert G Strickland, PhD ABPH - KE2WY rcrgs at verizon.net.usa
Syracuse, New York, USA