Ground Wires : Think Free and Effective ! - [Was : Minimum Gauge forGround...]
 

On Apr 14, 7:23*pm, "Michael" wrote:
Hiya...

Been a while since I posted here. *For the sake of noise suppression as
affective lightning protection is almost hopeless without gas tubes, what
would be the minimum gauge wire that you could use for a ground from the
radio to a ground spike and from a matching transformer to a ground spike
??? *Yes, I know there is loads of info on the net, but I would like some
active opinions as some recent discussions I have had on this has been
conflicting.

Also... I've gotten conflicting opinions on this one too. *If you have a
long wire or beverage set up on a matching transformer like the ICE 180,
there is a ground receptacle on the matching transformer. *Would you:

A. *Use a separate ground wire from the matching transformer to the ground
spike and another separate ground wire from the receiver to the ground spike
???

or

B. *Use one single ground wire from the receiver's ground port going up to
the matching transformer and then to the ground spike ???

I know this stuff is antenna-101, but I'm interested to see what the
opinions here are

Thanx in advance !!!

Mike D.
Northern NJ

Michael - Ground Wires : Think Free and Effective !

-IF- You have any 'extra' Coax Cable with Copper Shielding.
{That is Copper and Not Alumminum}

Note - 'extra' means it's Free -ps- Free Is Good :o)

That will fit {cover} the Length {distance} that you need
for a Ground Wire.

Note - Statements apply to Both Ends of the Coax Cable.

Remove the Connectors.

Remove about Two Inches (2") of the Outer Insualtion
from both Ends of the Coax Cable.

Bunch-Back the Outer-Shield to expose the Inner Insualtion
and Center Conductor of the Coax Cable.

Cut-Off the Inner Insulation and Center Conductor at/to the
Point where the Outer-Shield is Bunched-Back.

Put the Outer-Shield Straight and twist it into a Solid Firm
Straight Wire Bundle.

Solder this Wire Bundle.

Attach the Soldered Wire Bundle Ends to your Ground
and Device.

RG-58 is about # 20 AWG is DC Current Handling with
about # 10 AWG is RF Signal Path Bleed potential.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/cable/2619.html

RG-8 is about # 18 AWG is DC Current Handling with
about # 8 AWG is RF Signal Path Bleed potential.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/cable/2247.html

=WHY= The Coax Cable's Outer-Shield is a Hollow Round
Web* of Copper Wires that is : RG58 ~ 1/6" & RG8 ~ 1/4"
http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm
* Approximating a very thin walled copper tube/pipe.
This Web has a lot of Surface Area for the RF to travel along
-meaning- It is Effective as an RF Ground.

free and effective {keeping it simple and practical} - iane ~ RHF