J Pole Grounding

[rkwingo]

What is the accepted standard for grounding externally mounted J Pole antennas?

I am getting a wide range of recommendations from licensed ham radio operators (general class and above) - ranging from not grounding the antenna at all (rationale: the likelihood of a lightening strike is low, given the presence of tall trees around my house) to mounting a panel outside the side of my house where I feed a ground wire and coax cable (the latter has a lightening arrester attached to it). I am surprised that there is not a better consensus on the topic. What does this forum suggest?

 

[dave3825]

I am getting a wide range of recommendations from licensed ham radio operators (general class and above) - ranging from not grounding the antenna at all

to mounting a panel outside the side of my house where I feed a ground wire and coax cable

I would follow NEC guidelines over what anyone else says.

I am surprised that there is not a better consensus on the topic. What does this forum suggest?

There or tons of threads on the subject here in the forums and on the web.

 

[prcguy]

Don't listen to hams on grounding, you'll get 50 different answers with most of them being wrong. Study NEC article 810 which deals specifically with grounding antennas, masts, towers, etc. This is for human safety and meeting electrical code and grounding for lightning protection is a different topic which is not something that most people can achieve.

 

[mmckenna]

What is the accepted standard for grounding externally mounted J Pole antennas?

I am getting a wide range of recommendations from licensed ham radio operators (general class and above) - ranging from not grounding the antenna at all (rationale: the likelihood of a lightening strike is low, given the presence of tall trees around my house)

This is proof that there are a fair number of hams that have no freakin' idea what they are talking about, and shouldn't be allowed to handle sharp instruments, never mind give advice on grounding.

Just because someone is a "licensed ham" doesn't mean they know anything other than how to regurgitate multiple choice answers in sufficient amount to hit a passing score. Passing the test opens a door, it does not act as an indicator of knowledge.

What this lack of knowledge ignores is that direct lightning strikes can and do happen anywhere, trees will not protect you. It also completely ignores the fact that a direct lightning strike isn't necessary to do damage. The amount of induced energy from even a nearby strike can put enough energy into the antenna, feedline and mast to do serious damage or even injure/kill someone.

to mounting a panel outside the side of my house where I feed a ground wire and coax cable (the latter has a lightening arrester attached to it). I am surprised that there is not a better consensus on the topic. What does this forum suggest?

There is -absolutely- a consensus on this. It's called the National Electric Code, and if you want to dive in deeper (you should), look at Motorola R56.
Do NOT trust a ham to give you advice on NEC or R56. This isn't covered by the 35 question multiple choice test.

 

[mmckenna]

NEC is bare minimum. "It's not the ceiling, it's the floor"

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

NEC is for personal safety. It doesn't address anything more than keeping the people in the home safe. If you want to get into proper RF grounding, and/or doing work that is more in line with the industry, Motorola R56 will cover the rest.

Motorola Solutions Documentation

docs.motorolasolutions.com

 

[rkwingo]

Don't listen to hams on grounding, you'll get 50 different answers with most of them being wrong. Study NEC article 810 which deals specifically with grounding antennas, masts, towers, etc. This is for human safety and meeting electrical code and grounding for lightning protection is a different topic which is not something that most people can achieve.

Thank you

This is proof that there are a fair number of hams that have no freakin' idea what they are talking about, and shouldn't be allowed to handle sharp instruments, never mind give advice on grounding.

Just because someone is a "licensed ham" doesn't mean they know anything other than how to regurgitate multiple choice answers in sufficient amount to hit a passing score. Passing the test opens a door, it does not act as an indicator of knowledge.

What this lack of knowledge ignores is that direct lightning strikes can and do happen anywhere, trees will not protect you. It also completely ignores the fact that a direct lightning strike isn't necessary to do damage. The amount of induced energy from even a nearby strike can put enough energy into the antenna, feedline and mast to do serious damage or even injure/kill someone.



There is -absolutely- a consensus on this. It's called the National Electric Code, and if you want to dive in deeper (you should), look at Motorola R56.
Do NOT trust a ham to give you advice on NEC or R56. This isn't covered by the 35 question multiple choice test.

Thank you