Type of wire for base station grounding

[meloyelo]

I'm in the process of getting my base station all setup. Wanted to get some clarification on what is the suggested type and size of wire to use for grounding base station equipment. This would be more for RF grounding of course. Specifically is it best to use something like #6 solid uncoated copper wire or can you use a more flexible stranded copper wire. Also what size seems to be the "best". I read over the posts about ground loops and station grounding but saw nothing about wire size or type. I do plan to use #4 solid copper to do a safety ground on the antenna and mast. Thanks guys.

Meloyelo

[Bombero]

Hey Jeff...

I used #8 bare copper wire from an eight foot copper grounding rod pounded in the ground leaving about 6".

The wire is threaded into the shack and connected to a grounding bar. Then smaller copper wire from the grounding bar to each piece of radio equipment I have in the shack. Radios, SWR meters, and antenna controllers.

Make sure to ground the antenna mast as well with #18 wire with a self tapping screw or loosen one of the bolts on the mast and attach the wire there.

I strongly believe that you can never have enough grounds.

Good Luck

[De_Wildfire]

I use a 8 foot copper ground rod down below in the sump pump and a ground strap connected to it. I never get water. Then I have mini ground straps going to the main ground strap for all my radios and amp.

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[North Texas Mudduck]

this is for which kind of grounding
flat braided strap is the best

['Doc]

Actually, there are very few antennas that require RF grounding. Most grounding that you run across is for safety, not RF purposes, there's a big difference. For safety grounding the conductor used has to be large enough to handle whatever it may be required to carry. The 'shape' of that conductor doesn't make much difference as long as it's 'large' enough. RF grounding is the same thing, sort of, except 'shape' does make a difference since you are dealing with an AC frequency that relates to certain particular 'shapes'. (Terrible way of putting it.) Basically RF grounding works better with larger areas, rather than just 'size'. Hollow conductors work just fine cuz that RF never get's to the center of that conductor (skin affect). Braid works better than a solid conductor, more surface area generally. But braid isn't the only form of conductor that works well. Braid also has some disadvantages, it weathers badly, and has more resistance/impedance than a flat strip of 'flat' conductors. If that RF ground strap has to have some 'wiggle' to keep from destroying it's self, -tinned- braid works just dandy (doesn't get eat up by weather).
- 'Doc

The two types of antennas that do need some RF grounding are 'long-wires' and mobile antennas (there are more, but those are probably the two most common ones). A mobile antenna uses the vehicle's metal for it's other half. A 'long-wire/random-wire' antenna uses 'dirt' (or radials in dirt) for it's other half.

[meloyelo]

I think my original post must have been a little confusing as to what I'm looking for. Let me reword this. When it comes to grounding each piece of your equipment (radio, amp, meter), would it work to use plastic coated flexible stranded copper (such as #6 speaker wire for example) OR is it really best to use a solid uncoated copper ground wire. I plan to drive an 8' ground rod in just outside the room where I have my setup. Then from there I was thinking to run a solid #6 copper ground wire into my crawl space then up through the floor and connecting to a bus bar as a junction point. Then from there I will run either the stranded or the solid, whichever is the appropriate one to use, to each piece of equipment. This is all purely for RF grounding. The only reason I'm even asking about this is that my radio gear is in a corner cabinet that I have to slide out away from the wall to get access to anything on the back side. The flexible wiring would make things so much simpler for my situation, but if it won't work to help with RF issues, then the solid stuff it will be. Also, for the antenna side of the equation I'm doing a separate 8' ground rod with #4 solid copper ground wire attached to the mast to act only as a safety ground. Thanks for being patient with me here guys. All of this has been a real learning experience.

Meloyelo

['Doc]

I doubt if you would have any problems with using almost any reasonable sized insulated wire for equipment grounds. I think that 'reasonable size' would be something like 14 ga.? Insulated wire works fine. All that is going to the buss bar. From there, since it will be handling the grounds from all the equipment, the conductor to that ground rod should be larger. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm mistaken, but I think the NEC calls for a 6 ga. aluminum wire as a minimum? If it's at least that size, any type wire should do, it doesn't have to be aluminum. It isn't going to make any difference if that wire is insulated or not, use what you got.
- 'Doc

[Foxhunter]

For your CB Radio station electrical "Safety Ground", I believe the NEC Code requirement is #6AWG or larger jacketed SOLID copper wire but am unsure I'd have to look. Same as for your circuit panel box. Short as possible, running directly to the Ground Rod located outside your station/home wall.

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For your station "RF Ground" to/from the individual radio station components, you have your choice of either flat stranded braided cables---OR---flat copper stripping. Most that opt for the braided cables do so for flexibility----ie they "have give" and can be easily moved around. Very flexible.

copper-braid-products.jpg

copper-braid-flat-tinned.jpg

However there are many purists who will prefer the traditional flat copper strips for RF Grounding. Some might employ actual copper mesh. With RF Ground cables or strips, the flatter and wider the better. If you would like a good ground conductor and either don't move things around all the time or don't mind a simple disconnect each time, although they're rigid, the straps might be the way to go. In the end by most accounts, either should work well.

copperscreen.jpg

[Nightshade]

Many years ago in addition to a ground if I new bad storms were close , or I was going away for an extended , I used to disconnect all in house coax and place the ends on a glass jar to prevent lightening from arching around in the house. Worked like a charm.

[meloyelo]

OK guys, thanks for all the great info.

Meloyelo

[Foxhunter]

Many years ago in addition to a ground if I new bad storms were close , or I was going away for an extended , I used to disconnect all in house coax and place the ends on a glass jar to prevent lightening from arching around in the house. Worked like a charm.

Hmm glass jars ? If you get a chance, see some of the differing opinions here:

What to do with unplugged coax
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My Tower Hit by Lightning!
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Meloyelo hope you get it all together and going good.

[meloyelo]

OK, so here's what I ended up doing this weekend. Let me know if something here was a bad idea. I drove an 8' ground rod in and left about 4" above grade. To that I clamped on a piece of #8 solid copper wire and ran it through the brick wall into the crawlspace, and then up through the floor. I then went back into the house and trimmed the copper wire leaving about 24" sticking up through the floor in the area behind my radio gear cabinet. To that main copper wire I attached a small 4 connection bus bar. Then, for each piece of equipment to be connected to the bus bar I stripped the insulation off some old coax to get at the copper. Once I had removed the center conducter, I had a nice length of flexible copper braid. I cut that into appropriate lengths and used it to connect each piece of equipment to the bus bar. That now allows me to slide the cabinet away from the corner for access and not pull anything apart. Now, please be gentle if I bombed on something.

Thanks!
Meloyelo

['Doc]

I think you're close enough that it isn't going to make a huge difference either way.
- 'Doc

[meloyelo]

I think you're close enough that it isn't going to make a huge difference either way.
- 'Doc

Thanks Doc. You da man as usual. LOL

Meloyelo