Grounding question for auxiliary equipment

[Kiwibru]

I have read many of the grounding posts available but have a specific question about grounding the various auxiliary equipment to be installed with the new ham radio.

I live in an area that has historically very few if any lightning storms over a 35+ year period. Still figured to be safe, follow the science...

My new antenna install is grounded to an additional ground rod that is connected by #9 solid copper wire to the house ground rod. The coax from antenna has a lightning arrestor, tied to that same ground system.

The radio, the antenna tuner both have locations for ground wire. The DC power supply does not have any grounding screw but uses a three prong AC connector.

Several grounding recommendations, but confusing at best. One is to tie the radio and tuner to the outside grounding system, (antenna, coax). The second it to just run a wire from these devices to the wall outlet and tie into the cover screw and use the house grounding that way.
In one case another hole through the wall to the antenna ground system, in the second, a wire along the wall to an outlet.
Would the same #9 wire (solid) used in the outside system be ok? Or would a #10 or #12 braided be adequate?

Thanks for your wisdom gentlemen, much appreciated...

 

[K4EET]

Out of curiosity, what size wire is outside tying things to ground and between the ground rods themselves? What model lightning arrestor did you select? On the inside, it would be good to have a copper ground bar for all of the equipment grounds and then tie the copper ground bar to the outside ground system. Tying grounds to a faceplate screw on an electrical outlet is a bad idea. I’m sure others will chime in on this thread. System grounds are an important part of the ham shack. Also, is the ham shack on the ground floor?

 

[prcguy]

I don't see any specifics on grounding individual equipment beyond the antenna, mast and coax in NEC article 810, however a low resistance, low inductance ground connection from the radio equipment to the same ground point as the coax lightning arrestor should be good. Many hams install a copper ground buss bar at the radio operating position and bond the radio, tuner, power supply and other things to the buss bar and that bar would have a large gauge wire like #6 or wide copper strap to the junction of the lightning arrestor and ground rod connection. The goal is placing all equipment at the same potential as the antenna, ground rod(s) and AC entry panel.

 

[Kiwibru]

Arrester is a Proxicast gas cartridge type, 50 Ohm, coaxial female / female. Using #10 AWG solid copper insulated wire for connecting to house rod and an additional rod at the base of the house. The radio operations are in the upstairs office. I can upgrade the wire for sure, not installed yet. Copper buss bar will be another idea that I like.

 

[mmckenna]

Ground buss bar is the way to go. That's what we do with our equipment, usually a copper buss bar on the top or side of the equipment rack.

Don't do the outlet ground thing. The problem with that is that ground wire loops through a bunch of other outlets and will just spread the pain through your house. It's also, often, a small 14 gauge copper wire in the Romex that takes a very long wandering path all the way back to the panel.

 

[bolo928]

All home run to a common ground. Radio, Amp, and Tuner.

 

[Kiwibru]

Buss bar on order. Will be tying it into the ground system wire just outside the window. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[mtindor]

Buss bar on order. Will be tying it into the ground system wire just outside the window. Thanks for the feedback.

You're doing it the right way, much better than the vast majority of us hams (including myself) do it. It's not always easy It's not always inexpensive.

There is a right way, and a gazillion wrong ways. Like other mentioned, and you plan on doing, use a common ground like a buss bar for your shack equipment and do not purposefully attempt to use any internal house wiring for the station ground. At least that's what Ward Silver tells us hams.

 

[littona]

Something like this on the inside can save you some hassle:
Your heavy wire from the ground rod goes to the biggun... your radios and other accessories connect to the smaller ones. You can find them in the electrical section of most hardware stores. I found one on Amazon that has several different size screws for different wire gauges. They're not expensive, handy as heck, and you can mount it to your bench with a couple of wood screws.

This one is specifically

Eaton® Type BR & CH 14-Terminal Load Center Ground Bar Kit​

for $12.77 at Menard's.

 

[Kiwibru]

Opted for a buss similar to the above. Just waiting for it and some additional wire to use for connecting P.S., antenna tuner and radio grounds to the buss bar.

 

[prcguy]

Opted for a buss similar to the above. Just waiting for it and some additional wire to use for connecting P.S., antenna tuner and radio grounds to the buss bar.

I should have mentioned looking for a copper ground buss bar from an equipment rack. These are about 1" wide, 1/8" thick and up to 7ft long with tapped 10-32 holes along its length. I have them installed on the back wall of my built in work benches on 3/4" wood dowel stand offs. I make 3/4" wide tinned copper braid jumpers from my equipment to the buss bar.

 

[Kiwibru]

My needs are less than a lot of other radio users. Only three devices need the grounding and have grounding points to address. Thus, a smaller buss made sense to me. If I get the advanced bug later on I can upgrade. The comment about costs is so true. I could have just bought more computer stuff but radio has always been a touch point in my life. Finally, like a huge iceberg, it came rising out of the sea of possibilities.