First, thanks to: Pete/N4ZR, Ed/W3NR, David/K1ttt, Ed/W5TM, Steve/K7LXC,
Billy/AA4NU, and Tom/W8ji for their rapid responses and info. I will try and
provide a summary here of same, while adding some more info now known, etc.
To "clear-up" some of the blanks left in my initial posting:
ALL coax does connect via bulkhead 259's back to the single point ground
outside.
I am a Low Power station for now, perhaps a few years, 100 watts max.
I DO have a tuner and it does have balanced line input from my dipole + coax.
Balanced line has a "spark plug" connection device outside on ground system.
Bal line will also have a DPDT knife switch that will shunt incoming lines to
ground.
Main coax from tower has inline arrestor attached here, outside, as well.
VHF/UHF coax connect to ground only via the plate on the wall, very short/low
runs.
SOME of my devices only use "wall warts" for power, only have 2-prong plugs!
Entire station will power via a computer grade protector on the power line
side.
ALL coax will be disconnected and shorted to gnd, power plug will be pulled
when NOT OPERATING - Bal line switch will be thrown to gnd side.
Rotor lines are quick connected in the shack, disconnected and shunt to gnd.
That should have cleared up some of your "IF, ANDS, BUTS" questions, etc.
About half of you say "this grounding is already taken care of through the
power cord connection to the power service, 3-prong, etc".
The other half say " OK, do it that way or anyway you can - using cover
screws and ring connectors, etc, back to the single point plate".
Some said that doing so "might" setup a "ground loop" and would not be good.
Many of you focused on my Telco comment. THANK YOU.
Discussion:
Since I will have some RF to contend with when on the low bands, using the
dipole and the tuner via bal line, I am now thinking that a "selective"
grounding of boxes may be more in order here. Will wait and see, etc.
My radios and some of the equipment do have ground connections provided, they
will be connected as specified.
My "wall wart" items are what concern me now, mostly for RF reasons when on
the tuner. Perhaps this will end up being a make/break ground connection used
only when on the low bands...or? I'm thinking of a king sized banana plug on
the plate.
The TELCO side of things got a second look - on my part....ended up taking my
interface box away from the wall outside. Found the dang gnd wire - it comes
from within my house which has copper pipes about 18ft away from that wall.
Attached to another ground wire that is hidden within our buried cable (6
pair cable) at a "blind" connection point that you can't see if you just open
the box. Hence the confusion to start with....advice rec from telco must have
been their "canned" statement w/o any understanding. Anyway - will now cross
tie with my station ground array which is only about 5 ft away! I can drill a
hole to pass the wire and then calk it back up.
I think this finally puts everything to rest - my thanks to all for helping.
Mel - KD7DCR
List Sponsored by AN Wireless: AN Wireless handles Rohn tower systems,
Trylon Titan towers, coax, hardline and more. Also check out our self
supporting towers up to 100 feet for under $1500!! http://www.anwireless.com
-----
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
|