"Gary Pewitt" wrote in message
...
Here's a simple question. I want to connect my transceiver to several
antennas using 450 ohm ladder line and a balanced tuner. I found a
couple of small double pole double throw knife switches for the ladder
line. There are only two ways to hook these up. I can hook the tuner
output to the center with the ground on the bottom and the antenna on
the top connectors. This will allow me to connect the transceiver to
the antenna or to ground. The second way is to connect the
transceiver to the top contacts, the antenna to the center, and ground
to the bottom contacts. This will let me connect the antenna to the
radio or to ground. Is it better to ground the radio and let the
antenna float? Or to ground the antenna and let the radio float?
Of course if I leave the switch handle sticking straight up nothing is
connected to anything.
I am inclined to think grounding the antenna is better but I have been
wrong before.

Thanks and 73 Gary N9ZSV

If you have a real problem with lightning in your area, do some reading on
the situation. You might drastically redesign your grounding situation. The
grounding should be tied together at the service entrance, so the antenna
entrance should be near there and all tied together with low resistance to
ground. This means the tuner should be there too or at the antenna The
radio should be grounded to the entrance also. It is important that all
grounding should be done outside the building rather than through the floor.
That would bring the major current of a strike through your house. There
are ARRL tis documents on the subject and a bunch of others.

"JB" wrote in message
...

"Gary Pewitt" wrote in message
...
Here's a simple question. I want to connect my transceiver to several
antennas using 450 ohm ladder line and a balanced tuner. I found a
couple of small double pole double throw knife switches for the ladder
line. There are only two ways to hook these up. I can hook the tuner
output to the center with the ground on the bottom and the antenna on
the top connectors. This will allow me to connect the transceiver to
the antenna or to ground. The second way is to connect the
transceiver to the top contacts, the antenna to the center, and ground
to the bottom contacts. This will let me connect the antenna to the
radio or to ground. Is it better to ground the radio and let the
antenna float? Or to ground the antenna and let the radio float?
Of course if I leave the switch handle sticking straight up nothing is
connected to anything.
I am inclined to think grounding the antenna is better but I have been
wrong before.

Thanks and 73 Gary N9ZSV

If you have a real problem with lightning in your area, do some reading on
the situation. You might drastically redesign your grounding situation.
The
grounding should be tied together at the service entrance, so the antenna
entrance should be near there and all tied together with low resistance to
ground. This means the tuner should be there too or at the antenna The
radio should be grounded to the entrance also. It is important that all
grounding should be done outside the building rather than through the
floor.
That would bring the major current of a strike through your house. There
are ARRL tis documents on the subject and a bunch of others.


You will also want to dispense with the switches and use lightning arresters
so you won't be hanging onto several thousand volts built up on the switch.