Going to go very in depth on my scenario just to explain
I'm about to setup my first scanner antenna "farm" at a home in Phoenix, AZ. Nothing crazy and its receive only for me. Just purchased two 10ft 16gauge masts and plan to put 2 antennas on each mast (2 log periodics with rotators, 1 omni discone, and a yagi.. I plan on putting the 2 masts in different areas on the roof - 40 foot apart on flat roof (adobe style).. I will mount the masts on the parapit wall at roof level (25 ft).. So antenna would be about 35-40ft off ground.. Ground elevation at my home is 2500ft and its desert landscaping around, no higher trees than my roof level. I have 100 ft distance to my chosen grounding frame/plate & grounding rod location from mast #1, and 60 ft from mast #2.. I plan on running #2 copper from the masts to the grounding rod..
My questions.. with one major point.. I plan on disconnecting all my radios and tossing the interior coax lines down to the outside of the house during any electrical storms.. My main concern is keeping the house safe from roof fire etc. onto the questions..
1.. is it ok to fasten/bond mast #1 to mast#2 with 2ga. copper, then mast #2 across the flat roof 60 more ft to the grounding rod? or do i need 2 guage copper from mast #1 to grounding rod, and a totally separate 2 guage copper from mast #2 to grounding rod? I guess a simpler way of putting it, for grounding the masts, can I daisy chain the copper run?
2.. I am debating between the 8ft copper clad rods found at major hardware stores and the 6ft solid brass rods at ICE: Industrial Facility Hardware
Rumor has it the 8fts copper clad rods will flake off in about 5 years from being underground while the brass holds strong.. But I've also read that the extra 2ft deeper is better in managing potential lightning strikes. Which way should I go for my setup?
3.. related to the above.. What if I get two rods and plant them twice their depth apart? Better? or waste of time & expense in my scenario?
4.. if two rods is suggested, is copper #2 sufficient to link them together?
5.. I plan on buying ICE coax surge suppressors for my LMR400 runs.. I will get a rotator cable suppressor for those lines.. but I'm debating between ICEs more amateur "mounting frame" shown here:
Chassis Enclosures
and ICEs more professional bulkhead frame shown here:
Industrial Facility Hardware
I like the first more only because it mounts DIRECTLY on top of the grounding rod and I've heard the shortest distance from arrestors to rod is best (what better than direct?) but... with the number of antennas and rotators I plan on installing ICE doesnt make a mounting frame big enough for up to 6 arrestors.. I guess I could could install 2 smaller frames, one on each ground rod if I bury 2 rods? or is that a big no no to have 2 grounding plates to 2 bonded ground rods? If I get a bulkhead frame, what gauge wire to link the rod to the frame? again #2 wire?
Thanks in advance!
-Mike
I'm about to setup my first scanner antenna "farm" at a home in Phoenix, AZ. Nothing crazy and its receive only for me. Just purchased two 10ft 16gauge masts and plan to put 2 antennas on each mast (2 log periodics with rotators, 1 omni discone, and a yagi.. I plan on putting the 2 masts in different areas on the roof - 40 foot apart on flat roof (adobe style).. I will mount the masts on the parapit wall at roof level (25 ft).. So antenna would be about 35-40ft off ground.. Ground elevation at my home is 2500ft and its desert landscaping around, no higher trees than my roof level. I have 100 ft distance to my chosen grounding frame/plate & grounding rod location from mast #1, and 60 ft from mast #2.. I plan on running #2 copper from the masts to the grounding rod..
My questions.. with one major point.. I plan on disconnecting all my radios and tossing the interior coax lines down to the outside of the house during any electrical storms.. My main concern is keeping the house safe from roof fire etc. onto the questions..
1.. is it ok to fasten/bond mast #1 to mast#2 with 2ga. copper, then mast #2 across the flat roof 60 more ft to the grounding rod? or do i need 2 guage copper from mast #1 to grounding rod, and a totally separate 2 guage copper from mast #2 to grounding rod? I guess a simpler way of putting it, for grounding the masts, can I daisy chain the copper run?
2.. I am debating between the 8ft copper clad rods found at major hardware stores and the 6ft solid brass rods at ICE: Industrial Facility Hardware
Rumor has it the 8fts copper clad rods will flake off in about 5 years from being underground while the brass holds strong.. But I've also read that the extra 2ft deeper is better in managing potential lightning strikes. Which way should I go for my setup?
3.. related to the above.. What if I get two rods and plant them twice their depth apart? Better? or waste of time & expense in my scenario?
4.. if two rods is suggested, is copper #2 sufficient to link them together?
5.. I plan on buying ICE coax surge suppressors for my LMR400 runs.. I will get a rotator cable suppressor for those lines.. but I'm debating between ICEs more amateur "mounting frame" shown here:
Chassis Enclosures
and ICEs more professional bulkhead frame shown here:
Industrial Facility Hardware
I like the first more only because it mounts DIRECTLY on top of the grounding rod and I've heard the shortest distance from arrestors to rod is best (what better than direct?) but... with the number of antennas and rotators I plan on installing ICE doesnt make a mounting frame big enough for up to 6 arrestors.. I guess I could could install 2 smaller frames, one on each ground rod if I bury 2 rods? or is that a big no no to have 2 grounding plates to 2 bonded ground rods? If I get a bulkhead frame, what gauge wire to link the rod to the frame? again #2 wire?
Thanks in advance!
-Mike