I have heard a lot about grounding and using baluns, but I am using
the cold water faucet in the back yard, it has an old-fashioned strap
with a screw on the top that I put the ground wire in and tighten it
down. Is this any good, or would something else be better?
Thanks,
Bob
--

Count Floyd wrote:

I have heard a lot about grounding and using baluns, but I am using
the cold water faucet in the back yard, it has an old-fashioned strap
with a screw on the top that I put the ground wire in and tighten it
down. Is this any good, or would something else be better?

I recall something in the past about using water piping as a ground. Perhaps it
had something to do with electrolysis and the buildup of deposits of minerals in
the piping making that not such a good idea.

Perhaps someone else might chime in on this.

Personally, I use seperate 8' ground rods here.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

In article ,
dxAce wrote:

Count Floyd wrote:

I have heard a lot about grounding and using baluns, but I am using
the cold water faucet in the back yard, it has an old-fashioned strap
with a screw on the top that I put the ground wire in and tighten it
down. Is this any good, or would something else be better?

I recall something in the past about using water piping as a ground.
Perhaps it had something to do with electrolysis and the buildup of
deposits of minerals in the piping making that not such a good idea.

Perhaps someone else might chime in on this.

Personally, I use seperate 8' ground rods here.

Good advice Ace. Ground rods are fine wherever you have decent
conductivity.

However, if you live in a place where the ground conductivity is poor
forget about the ground rods and use radials instead. Even one radial
under the Random/Long wire will work better then a ground rod in poor
soil.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

In article ,
dxAce wrote:

Count Floyd wrote:

I have heard a lot about grounding and using baluns, but I am using
the cold water faucet in the back yard, it has an old-fashioned strap
with a screw on the top that I put the ground wire in and tighten it
down. Is this any good, or would something else be better?

I recall something in the past about using water piping as a ground.
Perhaps it had something to do with electrolysis and the buildup of
deposits of minerals in the piping making that not such a good idea.

Perhaps someone else might chime in on this.

Personally, I use seperate 8' ground rods here.


There are actually several reasons for not using a cold water pipe.

1. It may appear to be iron pipe, but underground or in your foundation or
walls, it may convert to a run of PVC or other material.
2. If all iron pipe is present, washers, corroded fittings or pipe sealing
materials may make the ground a poor one or create a ground loop with the
electrical ground of the receiver.
3. In many cases, the "ground" is actually via the mineral content of the
water, not the pipe. In some areas, this is a lousy ground unless you are
running salt water through the pipes.
4. As Telemon suggests, a system of radials is best (that is why AM stations
use them, too).
5. It is a good idea to check if there is a ground loop or difference of
potential between your "real" ground made of rods or radials and the
electrical ground the neutral on the power plug connects to. A difference of
potential can manifest itself in many ways, including damaging the receiver,
hum and noise, etc.

David Eduardo wrote:

In article ,
dxAce wrote:

Count Floyd wrote:

I have heard a lot about grounding and using baluns, but I am using
the cold water faucet in the back yard, it has an old-fashioned strap
with a screw on the top that I put the ground wire in and tighten it
down. Is this any good, or would something else be better?

I recall something in the past about using water piping as a ground.
Perhaps it had something to do with electrolysis and the buildup of
deposits of minerals in the piping making that not such a good idea.

Perhaps someone else might chime in on this.

Personally, I use seperate 8' ground rods here.


There are actually several reasons for not using a cold water pipe.

1. It may appear to be iron pipe, but underground or in your foundation or
walls, it may convert to a run of PVC or other material.
2. If all iron pipe is present, washers, corroded fittings or pipe sealing
materials may make the ground a poor one or create a ground loop with the
electrical ground of the receiver.
3. In many cases, the "ground" is actually via the mineral content of the
water, not the pipe. In some areas, this is a lousy ground unless you are
running salt water through the pipes.
4. As Telemon suggests, a system of radials is best (that is why AM stations
use them, too).
5. It is a good idea to check if there is a ground loop or difference of
potential between your "real" ground made of rods or radials and the
electrical ground the neutral on the power plug connects to. A difference of
potential can manifest itself in many ways, including damaging the receiver,
hum and noise, etc.

Never trust 'advice' from 'Eduardo'.

On Apr 18, 5:15 pm, "David Eduardo" wrote:

* * * Three Star Snip * * *

d'Eduardo -wrote-

- There are actually several reasons for not using a cold water pipe.

- 1. It may appear to be iron pipe, but underground or in
- your foundation or walls, it may convert to a run of PVC
- or other material.

Yes - That is true.

- 2. If all iron pipe is present, washers, corroded fittings
- or pipe sealing materials may make the ground a poor
- one or create a ground loop with the electrical ground
- of the receiver.

Again - That is true.

- 3. In many cases, the "ground" is actually via the mineral
content of the water, not the pipe. In some areas, this is a
lousy ground unless you are running salt water through the
pipes.

Actually the Ground 'connectivity' is the Mineralized Deposits
encrusted within an 'old' cold Water Pipe that give it it's
poor but uniform Conductivity along with the Water in the Pipe.
-Thus- The Cold Water Pipe makes for a 'fair' Electrical Ground
and RF Continuous Drain Grounding Point for the SWL's Radio
Shack and Antennas.

So getting to that Pipe at the point where it is just coming
out of the Ground is the prefered -and- Getting down to the
Main Water Feeder Pipe a few feet under-ground is better.

- 4. As Telemon suggests, a system of radials is best
- (that is why AM stations use them, too).

For Transmitting Yes -but- Most Shortwave Radio Listeners
(SWLs) do not need Radials to have an effective Receive
"Only" Antenna. The SWL simply needs a :
* Good RF Signal Collector {Wire Antenna Element}.
- = Radio / Receiver Connected between the two. = -
* Fair RF Ground Return Path {Ground Rod}.

- 5. It is a good idea to check if there is a ground loop
- or difference of potential between your "real" ground
- made of rods or radials and the electrical ground the
- neutral on the power plug connects to.

Technically and Legally they are required to be BONDED
{Electrically and Mechanically Connected Together}.

- A difference of potential can manifest itself in many ways,
- including damaging the receiver, hum and noise, etc.

Yes that is correct -including- Electical Shock, Fire,
Loss of Home, Personal Injury and Loss of Life.

That is "Why" the Ground Rod is First and Formost for
Electrical Safety [.]

Again - Technically & Legally they are required to be BONDED
{Electrically and Mechanically Connected Together}.

More Reading for the Newbie Shortwave Radio Listner (SWL) :

SWL -Newbies- The Ground Rod is First and Formost for
Electrical Safety and it can also Help to Improve your
Radio Reception.
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...c23d487859bed8

SWL -Newbies- Using a Cold Water Service Pipe For Grounding Point
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...834fc68e65c69c

SWL -Newbies- Outside Cold Water Faucets Are Generally
Poor Grounding Points and NOT Recommended.
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...6562c4b598e6c8

RHF's "Tip" on Ground Wires
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...01254b4099fb75

Question : Are My Chimney Bricks Grounded ? - NO !
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...4497141535c839

Ground Wires : Think Free and Effective !
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...5690ebd538e2f3

SWL -Newbies- Doing-the-Doable : The Wire Antenna
+ Ground Rod + Matching Transfromer + Coax Cable
feed-in-line {Counterpoise} -versus- Many Ground Radials
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...b7432d486275cd

start by building your radio shack from the ground up
and be well grounded - iane ~ RHF {pomkia}

In article 88147f55-b26a-464a-837f-e51aefefc422
@a5g2000prg.googlegroups.com, says...
On Apr 18, 5:15 pm, "David Eduardo" wrote:

* * * Three Star Snip * * *

d'Eduardo -wrote-

- There are actually several reasons for not using a cold water pipe.

- 1. It may appear to be iron pipe, but underground or in
- your foundation or walls, it may convert to a run of PVC
- or other material.

Yes - That is true.

- 2. If all iron pipe is present, washers, corroded fittings
- or pipe sealing materials may make the ground a poor
- one or create a ground loop with the electrical ground
- of the receiver.

Again - That is true.

- 3. In many cases, the "ground" is actually via the mineral
content of the water, not the pipe. In some areas, this is a
lousy ground unless you are running salt water through the
pipes.

Actually the Ground 'connectivity' is the Mineralized Deposits
encrusted within an 'old' cold Water Pipe that give it it's
poor but uniform Conductivity along with the Water in the Pipe.
-Thus- The Cold Water Pipe makes for a 'fair' Electrical Ground
and RF Continuous Drain Grounding Point for the SWL's Radio
Shack and Antennas.

So getting to that Pipe at the point where it is just coming
out of the Ground is the prefered -and- Getting down to the
Main Water Feeder Pipe a few feet under-ground is better.

- 4. As Telemon suggests, a system of radials is best
- (that is why AM stations use them, too).

For Transmitting Yes -but- Most Shortwave Radio Listeners
(SWLs) do not need Radials to have an effective Receive
"Only" Antenna. The SWL simply needs a :
* Good RF Signal Collector {Wire Antenna Element}.
- = Radio / Receiver Connected between the two. = -
* Fair RF Ground Return Path {Ground Rod}.

- 5. It is a good idea to check if there is a ground loop
- or difference of potential between your "real" ground
- made of rods or radials and the electrical ground the
- neutral on the power plug connects to.

Technically and Legally they are required to be BONDED
{Electrically and Mechanically Connected Together}.

- A difference of potential can manifest itself in many ways,
- including damaging the receiver, hum and noise, etc.

Yes that is correct -including- Electical Shock, Fire,
Loss of Home, Personal Injury and Loss of Life.

That is "Why" the Ground Rod is First and Formost for
Electrical Safety [.]

Again - Technically & Legally they are required to be BONDED
{Electrically and Mechanically Connected Together}.

More Reading for the Newbie Shortwave Radio Listner (SWL) :

SWL -Newbies- The Ground Rod is First and Formost for
Electrical Safety and it can also Help to Improve your
Radio Reception.
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...c23d487859bed8

SWL -Newbies- Using a Cold Water Service Pipe For Grounding Point
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...834fc68e65c69c

SWL -Newbies- Outside Cold Water Faucets Are Generally
Poor Grounding Points and NOT Recommended.
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...6562c4b598e6c8

RHF's "Tip" on Ground Wires
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...01254b4099fb75

Question : Are My Chimney Bricks Grounded ? - NO !
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...4497141535c839

Ground Wires : Think Free and Effective !
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...5690ebd538e2f3

SWL -Newbies- Doing-the-Doable : The Wire Antenna
+ Ground Rod + Matching Transfromer + Coax Cable
feed-in-line {Counterpoise} -versus- Many Ground Radials
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...b7432d486275cd

start by building your radio shack from the ground up
and be well grounded - iane ~ RHF {pomkia}
.
Are You Interested in building a better Shortwave Listening*
(SWL) Antenna ? {SWL Group} = http://tinyurl.com/ogvcf
GoTo = http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/
.
RHF's Standard "Shortwave Radio Listener (SWL) Antennas Group"
Reference Message Signature-Line = http://tinyurl.com/25zbrg
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...1dac3b4a1798e0
.
* Remember 55.5% of Shortwave Radio Listening (SWL)
is the Shortwave Antenna =http://tinyurl.com/ogvcf
.
RHF's Radio Shack in Twain Harte, California -USA-
SHACK INFO =http://tinyurl.com/2skmxm
Shortwave Radio / Receiver and SWL Antenna Info
.
-=2SKMXM=-
-=25ZBRG=-
SWR3:SWL:INFO
.


I did the waterpipe deal long ago once, but everytime I touched my PS
while keying the mike, or the radio and the PS at the same time, the
"bite" I got was pretty unpleasant. I finally sunk two 10' ground rods,
and have had no problem since.

BDK

dxAce wrote:

Count Floyd wrote:

I have heard a lot about grounding and using baluns, but I am using
the cold water faucet in the back yard, it has an old-fashioned strap
with a screw on the top that I put the ground wire in and tighten it
down. Is this any good, or would something else be better?

I recall something in the past about using water piping as a ground. Perhaps it
had something to do with electrolysis and the buildup of deposits of minerals in
the piping making that not such a good idea.

Perhaps someone else might chime in on this.

Personally, I use seperate 8' ground rods here.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

Plastic pipe may be in the line. Old plumbing with iron or steel pipe
to the street is a good ground; but if the feed is PVC, not a good ground.

Count Floyd wrote:

I have heard a lot about grounding and using baluns, but I am using
the cold water faucet in the back yard, it has an old-fashioned strap
with a screw on the top that I put the ground wire in and tighten it
down. Is this any good, or would something else be better?
Thanks,
Bob

If the "cold water faucet in the backyard" is actually attached to the
house, it will most likely not be directly grounded to the earth.
Somewhere in the house there is a ground wire connecting the cold water
plumbing to the electrical system ground, which is usually an outside
ground rod. In that case the outside faucet is not a good RF ground. You
would do better to build a ground system for your radio like the kind
being discussed here in the other thread on this topic.

On Apr 20, 12:46*am, Drakefan wrote:
Count Floyd wrote:
I have heard a lot about grounding and using baluns, but I am using
the cold water faucet in the back yard, it has an old-fashioned strap
with a screw on the top that I put the ground wire in and tighten it
down. *Is this any good, or would something else be better?
Thanks,
Bob
-
- If the "cold water faucet in the backyard" is actually
- attached to the house, it will most likely not be directly
- grounded to the earth.
- Somewhere in the house there is a ground wire connecting
- the cold water plumbing to the electrical system ground,
- which is usually an outside ground rod.
- In that case the outside faucet is not a good RF ground.
- You would do better to build a ground system for your
- radio like the kind being discussed here in the other
- thread on this topic.
-

Building a Solid Copper Ground Pipe {Tube} with an Solid Iron Core.
- Also - Water Drilling a Solid Copper Pipe for a Ground Rod.
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...60795205262938

Transforming your simple Ground Rod into a Ground Anchor :
Is It Worth The Work ? - You Decide !
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...31a1a89aa89026
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...b69b219da2de33