Tuckert,
After you get all the recommendations here and other
places, you might want to run down to your local library
and take a look at the National Electrical Code (NEC).
Take pad and pencil to make notes. (Depending on where
you live, you may be required to connect to your house
electrical ground.)
Most grounds are for electrical safety, and for lightning
protection. Very few antennas 'need' a ground. ( Antenna
makers always recommend grounding, but it's for lightning
protection.)
For RF purposes, radial ground systems are always 'better'
than ground rods. Depth doesn't 'do' that much good for
RF grounding, but the 'area' of the buried radials cover does.
If the ground radials are deep enough to ~not~ be caught
by the lawn mower, they're deep enough.
Ground straps, busses, etc, ought to be large enough to
carry any currents liable to be on them. That means that
bigger is better. If you get a 'buzz' from touching a piece
of equipment, it means the ground system is NOT, NOT
doing it's job. Find out why and correct it! Another little
bit of wisdom is not to use un-tinned braid as a ground
strap, especially if it's exposed to the weather. Just a plain
braid strap will deteriorate when exposed to all the salts,
acid, etc, in the air. A flat copper/aluminum/metal 'strap',
like roof flashing, works much better and won't deteriorate,
or at least near as fast.
Grounding seems like it should be simple, but it isn't. There
are a lot of things to take into consideration, if you want to
do it 'right'. It's your 'neck' you're protecting, so ground
accordingly...
- 'Doc
</p>
After you get all the recommendations here and other
places, you might want to run down to your local library
and take a look at the National Electrical Code (NEC).
Take pad and pencil to make notes. (Depending on where
you live, you may be required to connect to your house
electrical ground.)
Most grounds are for electrical safety, and for lightning
protection. Very few antennas 'need' a ground. ( Antenna
makers always recommend grounding, but it's for lightning
protection.)
For RF purposes, radial ground systems are always 'better'
than ground rods. Depth doesn't 'do' that much good for
RF grounding, but the 'area' of the buried radials cover does.
If the ground radials are deep enough to ~not~ be caught
by the lawn mower, they're deep enough.
Ground straps, busses, etc, ought to be large enough to
carry any currents liable to be on them. That means that
bigger is better. If you get a 'buzz' from touching a piece
of equipment, it means the ground system is NOT, NOT
doing it's job. Find out why and correct it! Another little
bit of wisdom is not to use un-tinned braid as a ground
strap, especially if it's exposed to the weather. Just a plain
braid strap will deteriorate when exposed to all the salts,
acid, etc, in the air. A flat copper/aluminum/metal 'strap',
like roof flashing, works much better and won't deteriorate,
or at least near as fast.
Grounding seems like it should be simple, but it isn't. There
are a lot of things to take into consideration, if you want to
do it 'right'. It's your 'neck' you're protecting, so ground
accordingly...
- 'Doc
</p>