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Grumpy
Junior Member
Username: Grumpy

Post Number: 32
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Sunday, July 24, 2005 - 2:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi my radio room is second floor of a town house.
my friend tells me that I can ground my radio useing a 3x2 copper flashing on the wall near the radio with 3foot runs from the radio to the flashing to the house ground.
will this work
ps I have a dipole antenna
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Grumpy
Junior Member
Username: Grumpy

Post Number: 33
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Sunday, July 24, 2005 - 6:53 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

from the ac outlet graund in the wall to the flashing to the radio
will this work?????
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Chainsawiowa
Junior Member
Username: Chainsawiowa

Post Number: 42
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Sunday, July 24, 2005 - 7:21 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Most every electrical box is grounded on each newer outlet on the wall, You know the screw that holds the cover on- take a 10 or 12 gauge wire to that screw and you will be grounded.
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Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833

Post Number: 1036
Registered: 8-2002
Posted on Monday, July 25, 2005 - 2:01 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The only problem with using the electrical system ground is the TVI you will create by turning your house electrical system into an antenna. You see, it's not like that electrical ground just goes to ground, it also goes through your walls and your ceiling to your light fixtures. It all makes a big antenna and anything you want to go to ground (like harmonics) will be split between ground and the 'antenna' of your electrical system.

Better off running a seperate wire through the wall and then down the outside of your hhouse to a good ground instead.
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Hollowpoint445
Advanced Member
Username: Hollowpoint445

Post Number: 584
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Monday, July 25, 2005 - 7:36 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

FWIW - An artificial ground is a device used to create a counterpoise to hopefully cure RF issues at your station if it's too far away from a true earth ground.

What Grumpy described is a plate used to create a single point ground for the equipment in that room. All equipment would be connected to the plate, and the plate would be grounded as well as possible.
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Crackerjack
Advanced Member
Username: Crackerjack

Post Number: 697
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Monday, July 25, 2005 - 9:56 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

An artificial ground, should have a tank that tunes the counterpoise. Best case, that is, And yes they work. I have used the MFJ units, and can tell you that they work fine with just running electrical wire, loose along the floor boards.

Also, remember that RF ground and DC ground are two different critters. The electrical wiring achieves DC ground only, and a counterpoise achieves RF ground -ONLY. And both are neccessary.

If you are close to earth ground point, DC ground may affford you an acceptable (not perfect) RF ground, as it does for most of us.

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