Just thought I'd add to this post a bit more before I gave it a rest. I was wanting to do this comment on Antenna installation & setup, but since I already scraped right here about grounding, I thought I better keep it here.
Lately, there has been many different thoughts, views, methods, advice, on Base Station Grounding. There has also been advice on what the NEC says, What it actually says, and many opinions about the same.
Well, I for one will always try to follow the NEC, FCC, and what have you. After all, it's for our own safety, and it's just plain good ethics. But the issue on grounding has bothered me for some time now. I'm hearing different opinions, seeing different ideas, methods & examples. Some will tell you that there's only one correct way. I wanted to explore because of the many different pieces of advice & info I have seen out there.
And this my friends is pertaining to Antenna, & especially Antenna Mast Grounding. As I posted in my very first or second post on WWDX, I had stated from my knowledge that there are two main types of ground in a modern day residential home.
As I stated: You have the Mains, Neutral Ground from the Meter box commonly called the (House Ground). And you have the Water Pipe Ground, known as the (EARTH) ground that is primarily, & usually a ground for lightning. You also have the subject of RF grounding, but I am more concerned right now about the two main types of ground. Mains Neutral & Earth Ground.
Two totally different animals. In my previous posts, I mentioned I was not hooked into either of the two because of fear of "Mains Noise Leakage". I submitted my reasons on these past posts of mine. Fear of being hooked to the Mains Neutral (House Ground) for fear of mains noise leakage into my Ground cable. And fear of being hooked into the Earth Ground (Water Pipe) because I had noise on that also
If you know anything about house wiring, you will also have known that the Earth Ground, & the Mains Neutral Ground are bonded together anyways inside your Main circuit breaker box. Well then, you wonder why I had my own separate ground rod for my Antenna mast & Antenna. Well, I ask you this, who in the world would want to be grounded to something that is carrying noise potential? I for one do not.
But yesterday, (all of a sudden) there was a nasty Ground Loop on this so called (separate ground rod) of mine. Which really surprised me because it was not there the whole two weeks I have had my Mast Ground hooked up to it. So I finally took L.C.'s advice, and hooked up to my Mains Neutral (House Ground) from the Mains Meter Box.
Well, the ground loop was gone, but still a little mains hum detected by my AM transistor Radio. Sorry, but I still have a problem with being hooked up to my Mains Neutral Ground Rod for the house. What if I had a lightning strike? Where would the current go then? You got it, right up my house's neutral wire system. Every socket, circuit breaker, etc, (plus because the neutral is bonded to the Earth ground as well), you guessed it! right up my entire grounding of my entire house as well, (conduit, electrical boxes, ground wires, the whole shebang). Follow?
Is there anybody here to prove otherwise if they were hooked to their central Mains Neutral House Ground? If so, I am all ears & very eager to hear your reasoning, your examples, and documentation supporting your answers & theories. So this is why I have a separate ground rod for my Radio Communications. I'm not wanting any kind of Mains noise whatsoever coming into my Radio through the ground whether it be from Neutral or Earth Ground leakage. Reason being is that I'm dealing with another problem as we speak with the Mains power as it is, coming through with a 60 Hz buzz as you will see after reading my original post.
Now I am not condemning anybody's advice here, but I have my own thoughts and reasons. And today, I also fell upon one of Booty Monster's posts about grounding in the Antenna Installation & Setup forum. He has the link of this information about House Neutral Grounding. Here is the link:
Special Publications | Technical Publication #31
2. Choose an electrode wisely. Don't use cold water pipes or AC service neutrals to achieve ground. both of these often travel very long distances before actually reaching earth ground, and they are often full of joint connections, corrosion, and dissimilar metal changes along the route. Making connections through these sources in transmitting applications frequently increases local interference because they become part of the radiation pattern at ground level. Grounding should always be done with the shortest distance to the actual dirt entry point where a rod may be driven. Ground rods come in many sizes but a length of 6 feet or more is highly recommended. Use rods that have a bright dipped copper clad finish to the steel core or solid brass for best long term results. Keep the earth around the rod wet as often as possible to increase effectiveness and dissipation capability.
Mmmm, do not use AC service neutrals to obtain ground.
Can anyone contradict this with any rational reasoning?
Until someone does, I'm finding another location for my separate ground rod, and I will ground my mast into it, far, far away from my Mains, period.
Sorry to be such a stickler, and I hope no-one is offended, but like Booty Monster, I am seeking answers. Answers with a bit of backup supporting evidence. That is all. but as I mentioned, I'm also wanting to do this right. I Never rush in anything I do. I will try different things before I settle onto something supportive.
Also, I just hope I can find a place on the other side of my house to put a ground. Somehow, there seems to be some kind of concrete ledge about 3' down & 1' away from my foundation that seems to run all around the house. Let's face it here, it's like there's everything under the sun here trying to stop & slow my efforts. I will not ever succumb. As I said before. All replies welcome. Wrong or right.
This is War.
:headbang
James
