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Re: [TowerTalk] [RFI] Back of desk grounding buss

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] [RFI] Back of desk grounding buss
From: Jim Lux <jimlux@earthlink.net>
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 06:43:29 -0700
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
On 3/21/14 6:28 AM, n8de@thepoint.net wrote:
I've been following this thread for a while and wonder why no one has
mentioned that a 'ground bar' is NOT a single-point ground.

Think of the 'ground bar' as a series-string of very low value RESISTORS.

Now ... think of your equipment as being connected to the 'nodes'
between each of those resistors ... rig A at one end, then rig B at the
first 'node' ... rig C at the second 'node' ... etc.

During a lightning strike, the huge voltage of the strike MIGHT appear
across that 'string' of resistors, causing each 'rig' to be at a
DIFFERENT potential.

POOF !!

I suggest that each piece of equipment have its own 'ground wire' and
those all be connected to a SINGLE point, perhaps at a point closest to
the ground rod.  (Mine are all connected to a #0 wire going through the
wall to the ground rod about 7' from the 'single point'.

G



One hopes that the current is not flowing along your grounding bar. The big reason for a bar along the back is that it's easy to connect wires to it, rather than having a rats nest of longer wires all going to some common point.

I doubt that in a typical "bench" or "table" scenario, that there is any real difference in chassis potential between a "bus bar with short stubs" and "radial grounding to a single point".

The big thing is to make sure that they're all bonded together, and that that bonding is to something relevant to where the transient is coming from.



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