[HCARC] HCARC Digest, Vol 17, Issue 14
GRG
w5grg at w5grg.net
Tue Sep 18 17:37:01 EDT 2012
I would never advise hooking a wire to any electrical outlet "ground"
I would hook a "ground" to a properly "grounded' system that would be
entirely separate from anything to do with
the power system.
Several ground rods connected together with heavy copper cable and in a
square pattern at least 8' on center and away fro the house
and use that system for all radio grounds. You can use various salts or
copper, etc around the ground rods or just go out and relieve yourself
on the rods
when everything is dry.
The electrical reason is that almost all home systems are
"bonded-neutral" which means the green wire is the same as the white
"neutral"
wire that is, both are connected in the main breaker box. Since we have
a single phase 220vac system, the "neutral" wire actually carries the
percentage of the unbalanced load of the 2- 110vac circuits, so that
"voltage" is carried to "ground" All this means that it is possible if
the ground rod next to the
main breaker box is not really "grounded", you can get shocked from the
neutral line in the house.
I have seen and experienced all sorts of electrical leakage conditions
due to poor connections in the home and breaker box in addition to the
poor soil conductivity around the ground rod.
Many times home electrical problems are cured by balancing the load on
both sides of the line.
There have been several "projects" in QST regarding hams hooking stuff
up to their home systems and many of these projects are unsafe and even
dangerous and
if your insurance company comes out on a loss due to an electrical fire
and finds out your mods are not up the the NEC you probably won't get
your claim paid.
Thanks, George R. Griesbach W5GRG, AFA6GG
On 9/18/2012 11:03 AM, hcarc-request at mailman.qth.net wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Volt Ohm Meter - How to measure to check a ground
> (Gary and Arlene Johnson)
> 2. Re: Volt Ohm Meter - How to measure to check a ground
> (Bill Tynan)
> 3. Volt Ohm Meter - How to measure to check a ground
> (Gary and Arlene Johnson)
> 4. Re: Volt Ohm Meter - How to measure to check a ground
> (Gary and Arlene Johnson)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:45:06 -0500
> From: "Gary and Arlene Johnson" <qltfnish at omniglobal.net>
> Subject: [HCARC] Volt Ohm Meter - How to measure to check a ground
> To: <hcarc at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <0FDE890511B04124B8FC7DF0C0D1057F at Minnie>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> My elecraft k3 kit will arrive tomorrow and I want to be sure that the sensitive boards are protected as I open the kit and perform an inventory of the pieces. I have driven a new ground rod and have attached a wire to run out the window and connect to the ground. I have one of the grounding mats and wrist band from Rat Shack to connect to the ground wire. How would I use my volt/Ohm meter to check to ensure the ground is good and what should it read??
>
> Gary J
> N5BAA
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2012 13:19:22 -0500
> From: "Bill Tynan" <billandmattie at windstream.net>
> Subject: Re: [HCARC] Volt Ohm Meter - How to measure to check a ground
> To: "Gary and Arlene Johnson" <qltfnish at omniglobal.net>,
> <hcarc at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <B8BA400C3044469BB399B68C8E8AAD37 at MAIN>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=original
>
> Let's see if others will disagree with me; but I would connect the wire from
> the mat and your wrist band to the round center pin of a three hole electric
> socket. My belief is, especislly here in the Hill Country where the soil is
> so non-conductive, that the best ground is the one porvided by the power
> company.
>
> 73,
>
> Bill Tynan, W3XO
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gary and Arlene Johnson" <qltfnish at omniglobal.net>
> To: <hcarc at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 12:45 PM
> Subject: [HCARC] Volt Ohm Meter - How to measure to check a ground
>
>
>> My elecraft k3 kit will arrive tomorrow and I want to be sure that the
>> sensitive boards are protected as I open the kit and perform an inventory
>> of the pieces. I have driven a new ground rod and have attached a wire to
>> run out the window and connect to the ground. I have one of the grounding
>> mats and wrist band from Rat Shack to connect to the ground wire. How
>> would I use my volt/Ohm meter to check to ensure the ground is good and
>> what should it read??
>>
>> Gary J
>> N5BAA
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> HCARC mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc
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>>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2012 13:41:46 -0500
> From: "Gary and Arlene Johnson" <qltfnish at omniglobal.net>
> Subject: [HCARC] Volt Ohm Meter - How to measure to check a ground
> To: <hcarc at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <A4DDE2CE622F479E93134A64A746C122 at Minnie>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=response
>
> Bill,
>
> That is one of the suggested methods in the instructions for the grounding
> mat. If acceptable it would be easier than wasting a ground rod for a one
> time use. When I built my house (yup from the ground up and I drove all the
> nails myself) I made sure to oversize the wire used to bring in electricity.
> I brought in 4 wires, two hot, one return, and one ground, so I am pretty
> sure there is a good ground on the electrical system.
>
> BTW - you don't do the same thing on your radio system grounding do you???
>
> Gary J
> N5BAA
>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Bill Tynan" <billandmattie at windstream.net>
>> To: "Gary and Arlene Johnson" <qltfnish at omniglobal.net>;
>> <hcarc at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 1:19 PM
>> Subject: Re: [HCARC] Volt Ohm Meter - How to measure to check a ground
>>
>>
>>> Let's see if others will disagree with me; but I would connect the wire
>>> from the mat and your wrist band to the round center pin of a three hole
>>> electric socket. My belief is, especislly here in the Hill Country where
>>> the soil is so non-conductive, that the best ground is the one porvided
>>> by the power company.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>>
>>> Bill Tynan, W3XO
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Gary and Arlene Johnson" <qltfnish at omniglobal.net>
>>> To: <hcarc at mailman.qth.net>
>>> Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 12:45 PM
>>> Subject: [HCARC] Volt Ohm Meter - How to measure to check a ground
>>>
>>>
>>>> My elecraft k3 kit will arrive tomorrow and I want to be sure that the
>>>> sensitive boards are protected as I open the kit and perform an
>>>> inventory of the pieces. I have driven a new ground rod and have
>>>> attached a wire to run out the window and connect to the ground. I have
>>>> one of the grounding mats and wrist band from Rat Shack to connect to
>>>> the ground wire. How would I use my volt/Ohm meter to check to ensure
>>>> the ground is good and what should it read??
>>>>
>>>> Gary J
>>>> N5BAA
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>> HCARC mailing list
>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc
>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>>> Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net
>>>>
>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----
>>> No virus found in this message.
>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>>> Version: 2013.0.2667 / Virus Database: 2579/5758 - Release Date: 09/09/12
>>> Internal Virus Database is out of date.
>>>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2012 18:14:50 -0500
> From: "Gary and Arlene Johnson" <qltfnish at omniglobal.net>
> Subject: Re: [HCARC] Volt Ohm Meter - How to measure to check a ground
> To: "HVORDENBAUM" <hvordenbaum at stx.rr.com>
> Cc: hcarc at mailman.qth.net
> Message-ID: <D798498F5A634FC2B0AD8D2AFF86E949 at Minnie>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Well, I know at my house I can trust the electrician as I was the "electrician" that hooked up my service.
>
> The original question asked was "What reading would I expect to see if I were to check the ground on a grounding rod and how would I set the circuit tester up to be testing??" In detail, how would you check the rod for a good ground with a Volt/Ohm meter??
>
> Gary J
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: HVORDENBAUM
> To: Bill Tynan ; Gary and Arlene Johnson ; hcarc at mailman.qth.net
> Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 5:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [HCARC] Volt Ohm Meter - How to measure to check a ground
>
>
> Don't trust the local electricians however. Use a circuit tester to begin with.
> 73,K5HV
>
>
> Sent from my HTC on the Now Network from Sprint!
>
> ----- Reply message -----
> From: "Bill Tynan" <billandmattie at windstream.net>
> Date: Mon, Sep 17, 2012 11:19
> Subject: [HCARC] Volt Ohm Meter - How to measure to check a ground
> To: "Gary and Arlene Johnson" <qltfnish at omniglobal.net>, <hcarc at mailman.qth.net>
>
> Let's see if others will disagree with me; but I would connect the wire from
> the mat and your wrist band to the round center pin of a three hole electric
> socket. My belief is, especislly here in the Hill Country where the soil is
> so non-conductive, that the best ground is the one porvided by the power
> company.
>
> 73,
>
> Bill Tynan, W3XO
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gary and Arlene Johnson" <qltfnish at omniglobal.net>
> To: <hcarc at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 12:45 PM
> Subject: [HCARC] Volt Ohm Meter - How to measure to check a ground
>
>
> > My elecraft k3 kit will arrive tomorrow and I want to be sure that the
> > sensitive boards are protected as I open the kit and perform an inventory
> > of the pieces. I have driven a new ground rod and have attached a wire to
> > run out the window and connect to the ground. I have one of the grounding
> > mats and wrist band from Rat Shack to connect to the ground wire. How
> > would I use my volt/Ohm meter to check to ensure the ground is good and
> > what should it read??
> >
> > Gary J
> > N5BAA
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > HCARC mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> HCARC mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
>
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2013.0.2667 / Virus Database: 2579/5758 - Release Date: 09/09/12
> Internal Virus Database is out of date.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
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> HCARC mailing list
> HCARC at mailman.qth.net
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>
> End of HCARC Digest, Vol 17, Issue 14
> *************************************
>
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2437/5273 - Release Date: 09/17/12
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