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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>I will also add that when lightning strikes and approaches the surface, water, or earth, it goes out laterally, radially, and close to the surface. Voltages can be lethal or harmful for a considerable radius from the strike point. This is why it’s important for ground rods to be long and deep into the earth. This conducts the energy away from the surface. We think of lightning as massive power and focused in nature. However enough voltage can find its way a good distance from the strike point enough to cause fires, electrocution and surely to damage radio gear. Eight foot ground rods (for insurance reasons as well) should be the type sold at hardware stores for this purpose and with connectors that also are to electrical code. They should go straight down or very nearly so.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>One thing I see with many hams is a copper plate on the side of the house where antennas connect. The plate is well grounded, and there is also a lightning arrester outside. Inside the house, the feedlines are disconnected from the inside side of the plate and left on the floor or some distance from the connectors while the shack is not operating. A master switch for the shack is also a good idea. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Bonding also matters to keep everything at the same potential. Yes, this is also covered in the ARRL books and it’s a very good idea to read it all and come to a PERSONAL understanding and conviction. The bonding should be flat conductors too. It’s your house, your gear, your family. Nobody will admit to giving you incomplete or bad advice if there is a problem.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>-73-<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>W1GCF<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Geoff<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> bars [mailto:bars-bounces@w1hh.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>wo1n<br><b>Sent:</b> Saturday, April 9, 2022 2:59 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'Robert Montgomery'; BARS Reflector<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [bars] Shack Grounding<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The havoc gets reeked when the different systems assume different voltage levels because they are not bonded together sufficiently. Your plan has some merit. But you haven’t talked about what your antenna system is, how the feedlines are terminated etc.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And from what I have seen for houses in this area, nobody (read telco, cable and power) give a damn about grounding and bonding to the book (NEC). Either they are lazy and incompetent or it’s just not a huge problem for this area.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Having said that, an 80’ pine tree in my neighbor’s yard, probably 150’ from my house and 50’ from some of my wire antenna took a direct strike a few years back. Took out the pine and a 50’ Oak right next to the pine tree. All of my ham gear survived. About $500 of cable, networking and PCs did not. All the damage seems to have entered in through the cable system but I would be hard pressed to prove that. Hardwire ethernet ports took the brunt of it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Check out the Grounding and Bonding for Amateur Radio reference the league offers for better guidance.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>73,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ken – WO1N<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Typed while a pretty decent thunderstorm rumbles outside my windows…<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> bars <bars-bounces@w1hh.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Robert Montgomery<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, April 8, 2022 6:46 PM<br><b>To:</b> bars@w1hh.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [bars] Shack Grounding<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Good evening everyone,<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>New ham here and I'm in the process of grounding my shack and have a few questions.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>I've already grounded everything in my shack to a copper bar with the braided straps.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>I do not have an outside electrical service ground.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>The ground wire goes inside and terminates in the electrical panel.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Coming out of the electrical panel I have a 6 gauge grounding wire which connects to my incoming copper water line from the street.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>The electrical panel is 10' closer to my shack setup than the water pipe.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Since the grounding wire connected to the water line goes directly into the electrical panel, my plan was to connect my inside shack ground to the electrical panel.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>My only thought is that if I do take an indirect lightning strike, if the wire goes to the electrical panel, could reek some havoc in panel or would it be smarter to go directly to the water pipe.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Would love to hear everyone thoughts on this.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Thanks in advance.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Rob<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>KC1QKU<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div></body></html>