I know a guy who brought some ground inside. 5 gallon bucket full of dirt with a so239 on the lid. 
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Shack Grounding
- Thread starter Crambone
- Start date
For what it's worth. A customer of mine had a direct lighting strike, it hit a chain link fence around a central plant. It was determined the voltage went down from the properly grounded fence then UP from the ground and blew the MCC to snot.
BJ radionut
Supporting Member and 6m addict
There are more to lightning strikes than 90% of the masses understand.
Generally some people seem to believe Lightning originates only from above.
Wrong! When it occurs some of the most powerful strikes originate from the Earth UP, known as Ground to Cloud Lightning!
These generally originate from Skyscrapers, Tall TV and Communication towers, however not always true.
Have you ever seen a tree that is split from top all the way to dirt level? Good chance that was Ground to Cloud, the strike originated from under ground and traveled UP the tree to air.
Another example: think a strike was really close when the Flash and Bang were so close together you did not even have time to blink?
Good chance that was Ground to Cloud.
Your poorly or ungrounded tower or mast can build this same charge. I have seen the rebar under a driveway or slab home exploded up thru the concrete. Extreme situations, yes of course; but does occur.
Many Myth's surround lightning:
Good reading here, but even with proof most still don't believe!
http://stormhighway.com/weather_myths.php
http://www.ztresearch.com/
http://stormhighway.com/tower.php#2
All the Best
Gary
Generally some people seem to believe Lightning originates only from above.
Wrong! When it occurs some of the most powerful strikes originate from the Earth UP, known as Ground to Cloud Lightning!
These generally originate from Skyscrapers, Tall TV and Communication towers, however not always true.
Have you ever seen a tree that is split from top all the way to dirt level? Good chance that was Ground to Cloud, the strike originated from under ground and traveled UP the tree to air.
Another example: think a strike was really close when the Flash and Bang were so close together you did not even have time to blink?
Good chance that was Ground to Cloud.
Your poorly or ungrounded tower or mast can build this same charge. I have seen the rebar under a driveway or slab home exploded up thru the concrete. Extreme situations, yes of course; but does occur.
Many Myth's surround lightning:
Good reading here, but even with proof most still don't believe!
http://stormhighway.com/weather_myths.php
http://www.ztresearch.com/
http://stormhighway.com/tower.php#2
All the Best
Gary
you get directly hit with lightning it wont matter if its grounded or not, its gonna f**k s**t up.
I got a rod below my antenna and 1 out the window to another rod from the radio and amp.
Of course the ground prong on the wall plugs are tied to chassis ground too.
Not sure if its right or wrong but I know a direct hit it wont matter.
Grounds are supposed to eliminate static and stray rf currents but a direct hit, unless you live in the empire state building or the CN tower, its gonna destroy stuff.
I had a close strike and it zapped my rf board.
The radio's gonna be toast no matter what.
The real reason for ground is a RF and DC ground for best performance.
Lightning hits the power lines its not gonna choose the ground only, its gonna go everywhere, hot, neutral, cable, phone.
Its game over
We're talking 100 million volts and between 10,000 and 200,000 amperes of current.
I got a rod below my antenna and 1 out the window to another rod from the radio and amp.
Of course the ground prong on the wall plugs are tied to chassis ground too.
Not sure if its right or wrong but I know a direct hit it wont matter.
Grounds are supposed to eliminate static and stray rf currents but a direct hit, unless you live in the empire state building or the CN tower, its gonna destroy stuff.
I had a close strike and it zapped my rf board.
The radio's gonna be toast no matter what.
The real reason for ground is a RF and DC ground for best performance.
Lightning hits the power lines its not gonna choose the ground only, its gonna go everywhere, hot, neutral, cable, phone.
Its game over
We're talking 100 million volts and between 10,000 and 200,000 amperes of current.
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BJ radionut
Supporting Member and 6m addict
Guess I have been lucky!...At least 2 direct Hits at this location, did not loose any equipment.
Transient Voltage Suppressor/MOV's mounted at service entrance location has stopped direct hit to Power lines at least twice.
I installed that after direct hit took out TV's/Frige/light bulbs/AC unit( no equipment in shack lost)
Since install no losses...Knock on wood
PS: Last direct hit required new UNDER-Ground service entrance cable be replaced by power company.. Left hole in yard where it blew up thru the ground....NO damage to house...
Again KNOCK-KNOCK
Good point,
My idea and hope is any nearby strike and/or static charge will be dissipated outside with the polyphasers which ground out along with the coax shield to three 8ft ground rods before it gets inside to the dummy load.
My antenna is a fiberglass push up pole supporting a ZS6BKW wire antenna. This pole is attached to my house with stand off brackets. .
Any direct strike will probably vaporize the fiberglass pole and could burn my house. Hopefully not, but that's the chance I'm taking.
I have insurance on my house and a seperate insurance policy which covers both my home and mobile station which covers lightning strikes.
I recommend to all looking into insurance for your radio gear.
I use Ham Radio insurance and it covers all amateur gear and computers if the radio is connected to it.
Shadetree Mechanic
Delaware Base Station 808
Forget the ground rods, forget the poly phasers, and when your house catches on fire because you forgot to un plug..... you can forget your fire insurance paying out. Lightning is only part of the reason to ground your station.
I think you're confusing "lighting" with "lightning" (notice the extra "n" in "lightNing"?
BJ radionut
Supporting Member and 6m addict
Consider this, just unplugging isn't fool proof either espcially if your antenna is attached to or mounted real close to your house. The proximity alone can be catastrophic. Some of the other posts here give good examples of what can still happen even if unplugged.
Also a direct hit with a wire antenna in a deciduous tree can carry high currents that could set the tree ablaze especially in the fall months when the tree dries up.
Lightning isn't always a single strike, it can have multiple veins to it where it can strike your house and antenna and anything else close to it and easily cause a fire.
So there are always dangers involved having a radio antenna in your yard which have nothing to do with whether or not you unplug the coax.
My setup WILL be effective for nearby static charges because it will trip the polyphasers to carry the charge to ground.
As for a direct hit, I can only hope but I'm not counting on it.
I've been hit at my house before and my insurance covered damages including other electronic devices that were ruined from the strike. My antenna didn't get hit so luckily all my shack gear survived.
The home insurance deductable and fair value still applies though.
I’ve been struck in my semi truck which wiped out all the truck engine and other electronics and wiped out all my mobile radio gear.
My home insurance didn't cover this because it wasn't in my home or personal vehicle.
This is when I got ham radio insurance because it will cover my mobile or home station and replace damaged or stolen items at full replacement value with a low deductable. The 1 time annual premuium is cheap to for my 2 stations.
I suggest to every Ham to look into a separate policy like this because the typical home policy falls short of complete replacement if you ever need to file a claim.
first, BJ can you post a link to the device you have mounted at your service entrance?
im interested in maybe getting something like that.
all, one thing that will matter should you sustain any damage to your home or the items in it due to a lightning strike, indirect or direct; is whether or not the insurance investigator decides that your antenna installation was not up to NEC.
If it is not, then all the debates won't matter, because you can be sure the insurance company is looking for any way to point the blame at you and not have to pay out.
per NEC, if your antenna ground is not tied in to the AC service ground then you are not in compliance and may not win the settlement.
when it comes to safety grounding, there will always be debates about what is good enough, and what is required, but the NEC will be the reference used to decide whether or not you are in compliance.
LC
im interested in maybe getting something like that.
all, one thing that will matter should you sustain any damage to your home or the items in it due to a lightning strike, indirect or direct; is whether or not the insurance investigator decides that your antenna installation was not up to NEC.
If it is not, then all the debates won't matter, because you can be sure the insurance company is looking for any way to point the blame at you and not have to pay out.
per NEC, if your antenna ground is not tied in to the AC service ground then you are not in compliance and may not win the settlement.
when it comes to safety grounding, there will always be debates about what is good enough, and what is required, but the NEC will be the reference used to decide whether or not you are in compliance.
LC
BJ radionut
Supporting Member and 6m addict
LC: I'll get the Brand name off mine. Duke Energy installed mine.(my service provider)
Mounts on the front of Meter base, I had one installed about 15 years ago, and just last summer had an updated version installed.
Cost was around $500, for like $3.00 a month they maintain it.
Also has module installed they can see when they read meter, if it requires replacement or maintenance.
When installed also comes with guarantee of up to $25K+ replacement cost on equipment inside home.
My homeowners also went down about 10-15% when I had the new version installed.
I'll have the Sec. of Treasury pull the paperwork...let you know.(check with service provider on this type)
Now as to the NEC requirements.
Many radio operators don't realize there is a NEC-US code section(NEC:810) that deals Specifically with(Home) antennas, transmitting and receiving equipment.
Also Article 250 (Grounding ) is referenced also.
Yes quite familiar, 38+ years as a Journeyman Electrician the NEC and all it's supplements are the "Bibles" of our trade.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=eaton+brsurge+br+series+whole-panel+surge+arrest+breaker&ref=choice_dp_b
Link above is another option I added to my special service panel, which is mounted in my shack.(see my album pictures)
I have also a 240 volt module that connects to my 40 amp Amplifier rack supply circuit.
So far so good.
I have stated before, NO system is Full Proof but been lucky so far.
Tomorrow's T-Storms could bring other results!
When you add up Radios/Home Theater/2- "Frigs"/Freezer/ HVAC /3- Computers etc. etc. You've got to try!
All the Best
Gary
Mounts on the front of Meter base, I had one installed about 15 years ago, and just last summer had an updated version installed.
Cost was around $500, for like $3.00 a month they maintain it.
Also has module installed they can see when they read meter, if it requires replacement or maintenance.
When installed also comes with guarantee of up to $25K+ replacement cost on equipment inside home.
My homeowners also went down about 10-15% when I had the new version installed.
I'll have the Sec. of Treasury
pull the paperwork...let you know.(check with service provider on this type)Now as to the NEC requirements.
Many radio operators don't realize there is a NEC-US code section(NEC:810) that deals Specifically with(Home) antennas, transmitting and receiving equipment.
Also Article 250 (Grounding ) is referenced also.
Yes quite familiar, 38+ years as a Journeyman Electrician the NEC and all it's supplements are the "Bibles" of our trade.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=eaton+brsurge+br+series+whole-panel+surge+arrest+breaker&ref=choice_dp_b
Link above is another option I added to my special service panel, which is mounted in my shack.(see my album pictures)
I have also a 240 volt module that connects to my 40 amp Amplifier rack supply circuit.
So far so good.
I have stated before, NO system is Full Proof but been lucky so far.
Tomorrow's T-Storms could bring other results!
When you add up Radios/Home Theater/2- "Frigs"/Freezer/ HVAC /3- Computers etc. etc. You've got to try!
All the Best
Gary
There must not have been a common single point ground. If there was current could not flow from one ground point to the other.
A friend of mine worked in the cell phone tower services for one carrier. He had been up the tower most of the day and saw there was a Storm moving into the area. By the time he got down from the tower the storm was very close. Taking shelter inside the equipment feeling safe sat in a chair and took his ease... No sooner than had he relaxed a lightning bolt hit the tower. Not being easily spooked he jumped and hit his head on a shelf. It did not knock him out but he was feeling some pain.
He secured the site and went home and discovered a hole in his right shoe. He decided to go get checked out at the ER and found out how lucky he was. No toes missing, some minor nerve damage but that was it. Well except he needed a shower and a change of skivvies.
He secured the site and went home and discovered a hole in his right shoe. He decided to go get checked out at the ER and found out how lucky he was. No toes missing, some minor nerve damage but that was it. Well except he needed a shower and a change of skivvies.