antenna switch 'ground' how good/valueable??
 

Last year I moved my antenna mast system to the 'south' side of my
house. Right off lighting 'busted' a two meter/440 ground plane. The
'juice' came in the shack, by way of two antennas, a TV antenna/coax,
and the coax for the 2/440. I had the coax un connected to the
radios. The TV antenna's coax was connected, to a monitor/TV and
VCR,,, ''they bit the dust''.
I had almost this same system on the north side of the house for
many years, with no apprent damage/problems. I have re purchased new
antennas and installed them in the air, several months ago. We have
had some 'near misses' since then, I no longer have the TV antenna on
the main mast (75'), it is located nearby now at about 20'.
I don't know why, after 'the move south 100' I have more problems
with lighting. I want to add more assurances (gournds?) to the
system, including a antenna switch, that has in it a swithch to
"ground".
But I don't feel really comfortable, putting some of my eggs in
this 'ground switch basket'. I purchased some connectors that
''slip on, slip off'', and I am thinking of adding a panel with these
slip connectors monted close at hand, and when there is "weather" I
just pull the slip connectors lose, and then use the ''ground switch",
switching, to ground.
Soooo now my question, how many '''holes''' are there in my
ideas/plans???? thanks in advance. cl 73

Extra ground rods are good but they must ALL be tied together with at
least #6 copper wire. A 300 foot roll of bare #6 copper wire costs
about $69 at my local home improvement store.

I am not an expert, but I have more than my share of bad experience!
de W8CCW

On Fri, 16 Sep 2005 15:02:01 -0500, wrote:

Last year I moved my antenna mast system to the 'south' side of my
house. Right off lighting 'busted' a two meter/440 ground plane. The
'juice' came in the shack, by way of two antennas, a TV antenna/coax,
and the coax for the 2/440. I had the coax un connected to the
radios. The TV antenna's coax was connected, to a monitor/TV and
VCR,,, ''they bit the dust''.
I had almost this same system on the north side of the house for
many years, with no apprent damage/problems. I have re purchased new
antennas and installed them in the air, several months ago. We have
had some 'near misses' since then, I no longer have the TV antenna on
the main mast (75'), it is located nearby now at about 20'.
I don't know why, after 'the move south 100' I have more problems
with lighting. I want to add more assurances (gournds?) to the
system, including a antenna switch, that has in it a swithch to
"ground".
But I don't feel really comfortable, putting some of my eggs in
this 'ground switch basket'. I purchased some connectors that
''slip on, slip off'', and I am thinking of adding a panel with these
slip connectors monted close at hand, and when there is "weather" I
just pull the slip connectors lose, and then use the ''ground switch",
switching, to ground.
Soooo now my question, how many '''holes''' are there in my
ideas/plans???? thanks in advance. cl 73

You need the good ground at the base of the antenna/mast.
Adding "grounds" to switches, etc, are generally a waste of
time. Being grounded, does not mean being safe. In many strikes,
it's the grounded stuff that takes the most damage. I would ground
the supporting mast with a good ground rod, etc, and use normal
lightning suppression methods to protect the gear in the house.
IE: suppressors, etc.. Check out polyphaser, etc..
MK