[SMCARA] Cost

Tue Aug 26 17:04:17 EDT 2014

Basically, yes.  All grounds should go to a common point.  If you wind up with different grounds, one going to your radio and another to the power panel, you run into a "potential difference" issue.

So what happens is that a lightning surge comes in on the power line and a potential difference occurs between the radio ground and the power ground.  You may wind up with a potential difference of several KVolts between the radio and the power ground that zorches your radio!

When I lived in Florida, our repeater (146.67 in Orange Park) took a hit on the tower or the guys.  The top mounted antenna was fine, as was the feedline.  The surge came down the tower and to ground via the ground field.  Unfortunately the power supply and phone patch went to a separate ground and were returned to their original state (i.e., the transistors became "sand" again!).

The use of a single ground will most likely help, but lightning is sneaky and can find all sorts of ways to create mischief!

Tom/W4OKW

-----Original Message-----
From: SMCARA [mailto:smcara-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Daniel Metcalf
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2014 3:47 PM
To: Bill Jones
Cc: smcara at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [SMCARA] Cost

I don't know you are asking about something that I have yet to do myself. I will CC the club and see what we get.

All,

Bill has asked me the following question:
Question. I have a solid copper wire running into main panel from under the ground. Tried digging this up but rod must be pretty deep. Can I attach my two other ground rods to this wire to complete grounds?

Based on what I do know all grounds have to be bonded together anyway so I don't see a problem but I leave this discussion open to the club.

On Tue, Aug 26, 2014 at 3:43 PM, Bill Jones <merc669 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Question. I have a solid copper wire running into main panel from
> under the ground. Tried digging this up but rod must be pretty deep.
> Can I attach my two other ground rods to this wire to complete grounds?
> On Aug 26, 2014 3:34 PM, "Daniel Metcalf" <kb3uun at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Thursday is good.
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Aug 26, 2014 at 3:33 PM, Bill Jones <merc669 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Well, I will be the thud for meeting. So maybe then if good for you.
>>> That way I can see antenna and maybe get one made up also for 80 for run.
>>> Let me know if this a world of we can arrange for after I get radio.
>>> I will be running ground this weekend hopefully.
>>>  On Aug 26, 2014 3:07 PM, "Daniel Metcalf" <kb3uun at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> This is good for me. When were you looking to do this?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, Aug 26, 2014 at 3:06 PM, Bill Jones <merc669 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Sorry my win7 calculator suffered a MS Miscalc. You are correct.
>>>>> Lets do 80 feet at 40. I think that works out correctly and 2
>>>>> twentys is easier..Gives me some play since I will need to
>>>>> practice a little on making these. Let me know if this is good for
>>>>> you. Thanks!! Bill
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, Aug 26, 2014 at 2:58 PM, Daniel Metcalf <kb3uun at gmail.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> you said 70 feet did you not?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Tue, Aug 26, 2014 at 2:57 PM, Bill Jones <merc669 at gmail.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> So 100' for 35 dollars. Sounds like a good deal. Just let me
>>>>>>> know when you want to do it. I am still pricing the radio and and other items.
>>>>>>> Going to go by Lowes and pick up ground rods and cable and
>>>>>>> conduit to make my water drill to install the rods. By the way,
>>>>>>> Can you use Computer speakers for the radio vice buying one of the overpriced Ham Versions?
>>>>>>> Thanks!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Tue, Aug 26, 2014 at 2:37 PM, Daniel Metcalf
>>>>>>> <kb3uun at gmail.com>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> How is $0.50 per foot so a total of $35.00
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Tue, Aug 26, 2014 at 12:21 PM, Bill Jones
>>>>>>>> <merc669 at gmail.com>
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Hey Dan, Did you ever figure out how much for approx 70 ft of
>>>>>>>>> the coax you had? Also, I should be at meeting on Thur, so
>>>>>>>>> will be interested in looking at the end-fed antenna you told
>>>>>>>>> me about. Thanks! Bill
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>> Dan Metcalf -- KB3UUN
>>>>>>>> c. 301 769 1111
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Dan Metcalf -- KB3UUN
>>>>>> c. 301 769 1111
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Dan Metcalf -- KB3UUN
>>>> c. 301 769 1111
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Dan Metcalf -- KB3UUN
>> c. 301 769 1111
>>
>

--
Dan Metcalf -- KB3UUN
c. 301 769 1111
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