In article ,
"Robert11" wrote:

"Telamon" wrote in
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In article , "Robert11"
wrote:

Hi,

In the category of "why the heck didn't I do that years ago,"
thought I'd relate my experience with a new HF receiving only
antenna.

Up to now, have had a simple random length wire running around the
four sides of my attic. Worked, and was able to receive many
stations, but was always disappointing.

Bought the PAR EF-SWL antenna, and just put it up outside as an
Inverted-L, and away from the house by about 75 feet or so. Coax
run-in to the receiver. Wow, what an incredible difference. The
noise level is way, way down.

Question; The PAR ends in a Balun, from which I have a wire to a
ground bar I pounded into the ground next to it. From there, the
coax starts.

I also have a chassis ground from the radio to a nearby cold water
pipe. Have been putting it on and off trying to decide if it helps
to have this additional ground, or hurts. There is of course the
ground loop questions, etc. about having two grounds (the earth
ground by the Balun, and this one to the cold water pipe)

Hate to admit it, but am having trouble deciding if it helps. At
times, and for different freq's, I sort of think it either helps,
or makes no difference, at other time, perhaps a bit more noisy.

Most of the time, I believe, it makes absolutely no difference
whether this chassis receiver ground wire is on or off.

**Anyone have any thoughts or comments regarding having this
additional ground ? **

Should it make a difference ? I tend to think it shouldn't matter,
as they usually suggest grounding the coax, Also, right where it
enters the house, which would be pretty much equivalent.

There is, of course, also the grounding pin of the AC power line,
which, pretty much ends up at the same place, namely a cold water
pipe via a ground/neutral wire, from the AC Service Box.

Curious about what all you experts think re these configurations.
Not too sharp with this, and would appreciate any thoughts on.

Congratulations on the improved antenna.

You don't say which radio you own but chances are the third prong
(ground) is the radio chassis so another ground wire to the radio
case won't make a difference.

The important ground is at the antenna UNUN.

Hi,

Sorry i forgot to mention: have a JRC NRD 545

You're undoubtedly correct. Why, though, provide an additional ground
connection off of the barrier / terminal strip ?

The ground prong is for safety. Manufactures have two ways to go.
Either make the entire exterior non-conductive with a minimum value of
voltage insulation and use a polarized plug or go with the third ground
prong to earth ground that is not normally supposed to carry current.
This ground prong goes to the conductive cabinet of the unit. If a hot
wire inside the unit touches the cabinet it then causes a short circuit
blowing a fuse or breaker preventing electrocution. The white return
wire is supposed to carry the normal operating current for the device.

In the USA at least the black wire is the hot wire with gold contacts
on connectors, white wire is the return with silver colored contacts
and green is the ground. Often the screw to put the ground wire on is
painted green or marked in a obvious way. Wall sockets and power cords
to appliances are all polarized to maintain this relationship of hot,
return and earth ground.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California