[R-390] Ham Shack Grounding Help!!!!

[Dan Merz]

Roy/Kim,  I can agree with the 60 v normal when there's no grounded outlet - I
have pretty modern wiring in my home but one day not too long ago discovered  60
volts chassis to ground even though it should have been zero.  I discovered this
by   rf noise associated with touching a wire from an external ground rod located
outside the house to the radio chassis,  and then measuring about 60 volts ac
between the chassis and the ground wire.    It took me awhile to discover that on
the leg of my wiring where I have my radios there was no ground coming to the 3
prong outlet or to any of the several other outlets on the same circuit - easily
detected by plugging in one of the circuit checker gadgets - but not so easy to
remedy.  Fortunately I was able to get into the junction box where the problem
originated (conveniently left somewhat visible by the previous owner) and found a
ground wire that was not firmly connected to the bundle of ground wires connected
there.  Too many connectors in an undersized wire nut and with no room to tighten
it sufficiently !!  I fixed that by better type of connection and the 60 volts
went away.   I feel safer now.  I guess if  one of those caps( the one on the hot
side)   that put the 60 v on the chassis happens to short,  I'll now be saved by
my circuit breaker or radio fuse rather than taking the potentially lethal
current myself if I happen to be grounded.       Dan.

Roy Morgan wrote:

> At 11:21 PM 6/20/2002 -0400, you wrote:
> >I have received lots of good info that I can use to help eliminate my noise
> >problems.  I was out all day today so did not get to follow up on any of
> >this.  Yesterday however I did do one check and it did not look good.  There
> >is 60 v. from the chassis of my radio to the cold water pipe.
>
> Standard condition.
> Caused by NORMAL operation of the line filter capacitors.
> GROUND your radio to the cold water pipe, PLEASE.
> Do not use any ground fault interruptor outlets.
>
> >  Not good at
> >all.  I am going to get an electrician in here as soon as possible to see
> >what we are going to have to do to fix that.
>
> That is cused by the RADIO line filter. NOT by the electrical system in
> your house, except that you have ungrounded outlets.
>
> Roy
>
> Roy Morgan
> K1LKY since 1959
> 7130 Panorama Drive, Derwood MD 20855
> 301-330-8828 home .... 301-975-3254 work
> roy.morgan@nist.gov
>
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