Base Ground Question

[Traffic_Guy]

I plan on setting up a home base, I'm having a hard time with different opinions about grounding the antenna. I plan on mounting an Antron 99 on a galvanized Mast. I will put the Mast in the ground about 2 feet. I will then drive a copper ground rod next to the pipe and bond them together. Also I would like to install a lightning arrestor for the coax. Does this install where the coax connects to the antenna and then ground to the mast? Or at the bottom where it would ground to the ground rod? any help would be appreciated.

 

[mmckenna]

The coax lightning arrestor should be installed at the point where the coaxial cable enters your home.

The new ground rod you put in at the base of the mast MUST be bonded to the home ground rod, per National Electric Code. That ensures that you won't have any ground potential differences between the grounded coaxial cable to your radio and other grounded items in your home.

 

[W9WSS]

I've done exactly what mmckenna suggested, several years ago.

 

[mmckenna]

Here's a really good, fairly easy to understand, description of what you need to do:

https://www.mikeholt.com/instructor2/img/product/pdf/17LED-1498-sample.pdf

It takes some time and money to do it right, but it's worth it in the long run. The better the job you do on the installation now, the less you have to fix later.

 

[slowmover]

 

[slowmover]

Here's a really good, fairly easy to understand, description of what you need to do:

https://www.mikeholt.com/instructor2/img/product/pdf/17LED-1498-sample.pdf

It takes some time and money to do it right, but it's worth it in the long run. The better the job you do on the installation now, the less you have to fix later.

That’s a very good pdf

 

[WA0CBW]

There should be no soldering in any ground connection. They must be only welded or mechanical connections.
BB

 

[dlwtrunked]

There should be no soldering in any ground connection. They must be only welded or mechanical connections.
BB

If you are referring to the diagrams, the soldering reference there is to the installation of the coax connector (in other words not to use solderless PL-259 or Type-N).

 

[prcguy]

It appears they are using copper tubing of some kind in the ground system and the soldering looks like its on the copper tubing. That would be a no.

If you are referring to the diagrams, the soldering reference there is to the installation of the coax connector (in other words not to use solderless PL-259 or Type-N).

 

[MUTNAV]

Hi... I recommend a few minor changes, but they are really just loose ideas, and you are the one doing the work, so.....

1. The "temporary holes" should be permanent to allow for the inspection of connections.
2. The coax shield ground should be connected to ground at the entry panel, not on the tower.

Language is funny, when you say "soldered", do you mean "welded", there is a huge difference, welding or mechanical connections (with listed components) are required for grounds (actually "brazing" or "exothermic welds", usually with a little thermite )) Exothermic welds are done with a little cup of thermite mixture in a clay thing, that you light and automatically welds the wire and rod together (CADWELD makes them).

Pipes, rods, and tubes, are different. wouldn't recommend a pipe or tube for anything here. (partially usable, just not recommended).



Also... and this could be important.... All towers that I have seem, have the ground ring bonded to the tower ABOVE the base, otherwise you could put a lightning bolt through the concrete, risking structural damage...

https://www.wbdg.org/FFC/NAVFAC/DMMHNAV/hdbk419a_vol2.pdf

page 1-17 and 1-19 could be informative.

Basically go by the National electrical code, and use all other information for clarification.

I hope this helps as well as the other well thought out comments.

Thanks
Joel

 

[mmckenna]

2. The coax shield ground should be connected to ground at the entry panel, not on the tower.

Industry standard is to ground the coax shield with a grounding kit at the top of the tower, bottom of the tower and often periodically along the length of the tower. That lets the tower carry some of the load and not dump it all on the coax shield.

For CB/Hobby use, any grounding is often better than what most hobbyists do.

 

[MUTNAV]

Industry standard is to ground the coax shield with a grounding kit at the top of the tower, bottom of the tower and often periodically along the length of the tower. That lets the tower carry some of the load and not dump it all on the coax shield.

For CB/Hobby use, any grounding is often better than what most hobbyists do.

At first my reaction was "yikes" that doesn't sound right.
But then I thought about some antennas that I had (helped to) install, and in a roundabout way the shield was grounded, the coax connector was a bulkhead connector, the "bulkhead" and its associated reflector was connected to a separate down-lead that was secured to the tower with grounding clamps on the way down.
One of the installations was a little overkill, when reading the "rules" it required a seperate downlead for each of the three antennas, plus two 4/0 downleads due to the tower height (on separate tower legs). It ended up being a very large bundle of grounds.

https://www.dbsant.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/300glideslope-e1532119778727.jpg

Thanks
Joel

 

[mmckenna]

It's common to have a grounding kit near the top and bonding the ground to the tower.
All the towers I've worked on have a ground buss mounted at the tower base and each cable coming down the tower has a grounding kit bonded to it.

But, again, for CB, anything is better than nothing. For a basic hobby install, follow NEC and you'll be golden.

 

[dlwtrunked]

It appears they are using copper tubing of some kind in the ground system and the soldering looks like its on the copper tubing. That would be a no.

You are right, I did not have my glasses on and thought I was looking at the coax. 8-(

 

[N4KVE]

Over the years, depending on where I have lived, I ran a ground rod into the earth, & other times I didn’t. Never noticed a difference. Oh, when I moved, I left it there.