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Deliz2
New member
Username: Deliz2

Post Number: 4
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 8:58 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

THE OTHER DAY I READ A POSTING ABOUT DIGGING A HOLE AND PUTTING A BIG RADIATOR, FILLED WITH SALT AND RUNNING YOUR GROUND WIRE FROM THE BURRIED RADIATOR. I THINK IT WAS A POSTING FROM A TEC BUT I'M NOT SURE. I'VE SPENT THE LAST 45 MIN. TRYING TO FIND IT. I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE SALT DID AND IF THIS REALLY WORKED. I AM SURROUNDED BY SAND AND UNLESS IT RAINS ALOT I DON'T THINK I'M GETTING A VERY GOOD GROUND FROM JUST THE GROUND ROD. SO IF ANY ONE CAN DIRECT ME TO THAT POSTING PLEASE DO SO. YOU WOULD'NT BELIVE HOW MENY RESULTS YOU GET FROM SEARCHING UNDER "GROUNDING"
THANKS JACK
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Crackerjack
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackerjack

Post Number: 451
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 11:13 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I am in sandy soil as well, and what I did was to replace the 8 foot section of rebar -suggested by the techs, with the heaviest 12 foot section I could find. I got it from the County Construction Crew -they even delivered it.

Got a guy on the roof, then a ladder -with a fence post driver, took our time, and wend inn as far as we could go -leaving just enough bedide the house to connect several wires.

It worked, Even sand eventually has a moisture level that takes over after a few feet.
You can plant a flower bed there and leep it moist, that way. Any way, it worked, I grounded the mast and the internal equipment -to it.
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Tech291
Moderator
Username: Tech291

Post Number: 173
Registered: 11-2004


Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 1:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Deliz2,
think this may be the thread you were refering to;
http://www.copperelectronics.com/cgi-bin/discus4/board-auth.cgi?file=/7750/7939.html

tech291
CEF#291
kc8zpj
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Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior

Post Number: 551
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 2:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Don't get jealous anyone, but, i have nice
black,moist conductive soil...LOL...
I read that post your talking about: good
article.

JIM/ PA/ CEF
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Crackerjack
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackerjack

Post Number: 453
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 3:39 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Ok, Ground wire... Solid Copper or Stranded?

Weigh in.
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Yankee
Advanced Member
Username: Yankee

Post Number: 525
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 5:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

#10 or #12 solid copper wire works the best for my grounding systems.
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Crackerjack
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackerjack

Post Number: 456
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 6:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I think I agree but I am reading material on stranded providing better RF ground. I am not convinced I believe it.
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Iluvrf
Member
Username: Iluvrf

Post Number: 53
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 7:35 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Stranded is better. It has more surface area
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Crackerjack
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackerjack

Post Number: 458
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 8:23 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

That is what the article said. Solid core handles current w/less heat and stranded handles RF w/less impedance.

Solid core for DC and stranded for RF ground.
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Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior

Post Number: 560
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Saturday, May 14, 2005 - 12:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

All wires have there drawbacks. Straided
with fall apart over time, due to moisture
that gets in between the straids.
Of course whatever you use it should be
cleaned every year or changed when needed.

JIM/ PA/ CEF 375

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Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior

Post Number: 562
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Saturday, May 14, 2005 - 12:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I personally use #6 solid ground wire.
And as little as possible of it.
I made sure all connections were good
from the antenna down through the tower.
My ground wires comes off each leg of my
tower at the bottom to there own ground-rod.
Each length of wire i used was about 6 feet.
And grounds coming off your equipment should
be as short as possible to outside ground-
rod. Mines 6 ft. My radios on ground-level.
If you have a radio on 2nd or third floor.
Better to find another way as that length
of wire could cause problems: Such as causing
TVI, RFI to yourself or neighbors.

JIM/ PA/ CEF 375
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Crackerjack
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackerjack

Post Number: 483
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Saturday, May 14, 2005 - 1:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I guess, shouldn't there be both? A DC ground AND a RF ground?
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Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior

Post Number: 563
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 9:55 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yes there should be both.
But, if you live on 2nd floor or
have a radio there, your RF ground
will not be effective with that long
of run of ground wire from your equipment.
It would only cause problems.

JIM/ PA/ CEF 375
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Bigbob
Senior Member
Username: Bigbob

Post Number: 1904
Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 4:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

If you have sandy soil you can get a piece of well casing 1 1/2 inch should work drive it in the groundand use a garden hose to jet water as you doit,drop a ground rod in with a wire clamped on,this only works if you hit surface water and can submerge most of the rod.Bigbob
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Crackerjack
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackerjack

Post Number: 491
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 6:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Road Warrier. MFJ makes an artificial ground for such installations, where all other attempts at an rf ground fails. And they actually work.
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Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior

Post Number: 565
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 11:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yes, that would be an option for
someone that can't achieve a
effective RF ground.

JIM/ PA/ CEF 375

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