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Road_warrior
Intermediate Member
Username: Road_warrior

Post Number: 180
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Tuesday, November 16, 2004 - 5:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Whats the best way to ground a radio system?
I have a Ranger 2995dx Base, no other equipment
hooked up to it. Where my radio sits, its roughly
15 feet from my grounding system (groundrods)
outside the house. Information will be very much appreciated!

JIM/CENTRAL PA/CEF 375
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Kid_vicious
Junior Member
Username: Kid_vicious

Post Number: 44
Registered: 9-2004
Posted on Tuesday, November 16, 2004 - 11:39 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

road warrior, get a piece of copper flat strap, about 1/8" thick and about 1" to 1 1/2" wide.
you can also use copper plumbing pipe. if you use the strap, drill holes every 6" and put a bolt and nuts in each hole. buy braided ground cables at the auto parts store (buy the smaller ones, not the kind for use on a battery). drill a small hole in the back of the chassis of your base, and any other equip. you wish to ground and put a bolt and nuts on them. now you can bolt the ground strap to the braided cable to the bolt on the radio(s). using 4ga. or bigger copper wire; connect the copper strap(or pipe) to a ground rod on the outside of the house. (this will require drilling a hole in the wall and filling it with spray foam, but this is the best way to ground your equipment.
p.s. if you use the pipe, you can use hose clamps for the connections.
good luck!
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Drcat
New member
Username: Drcat

Post Number: 3
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, December 01, 2004 - 11:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I have a cobra radio and I need to ground it. I live in an apartment, and I do not have access to the backyard of my building.

All I have is heat pipes (the radiator with paint on it), and the kitchen and bathroom sink with pipes.

As a second choice, could I use a device call Artificial Ground? How does that work?

73
drcat/New York City/CEF200


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Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808

Post Number: 4198
Registered: 8-2002


Posted on Thursday, December 02, 2004 - 12:46 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Drcat,

Apartments can be a nightmare to find a ground.

If you have a Menards, LOWES or Home Depot, Electrical Store try and find a GB Brand GRT-500 Circuit Tester.

Plug it into your electrical outlet and it will let you know if your wiring circuit is Grounded.

If it is you can use the Center screw to the Outlet as a ground for your equipment BUT Remember ALl of you neighbors are probably also using the same wiring also.

If you have a Separate Fuse / Breaker box for your apartment then you can get a ground there also generally.

The Circuit Testers are very easy to use and Reasonable in price.

Hope this helps,

Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN

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