What do you think? Light / Antenna Rack. And some Questions.

[danoj77]

Ok I have Finished my Light / Antenna Rack.
Sorry not on roll bars yet. Maybe tomorrow.

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Here is a concept / idea picture of how I might setup the antenna.

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Ok so this roll bar has plastic or rubber bushing in between each
connected pipe. So I don't know if it would be a very good ground.

Would 1/2" braided ground straps be sufficient?

Also I kinda don't want to scrap off the paint cause it will rust and
might not even help with this roll bar.

[T1g3rEyz3]

Nice concept - very practical/functional...

Just two suggestions/questions:

1. Since your roll bars are chrome, paint your light/antenna bar with silver/chrome paint so it blends better.
2. Since your diagram specifies an exposed coil-type antenna, have you thought about using some sort of "break away" mechanism for low pass/clearance areas? (Just a thought...)

I'm not an expert on ground straps, but your planned 1/2" braided ground strap idea sounds like a plan to me - though you could easily use some 4-6 gauge coated wire (OFC - oxygen free cop per). Are you going to use zip ties to route them down the roll bars or are you going to run 'em internally?

[danoj77]

I could paint it chrome.... but I didn't have any chrome/silver paint last night.

And yes it will fold down. I will be using this antenna mount, and a Predator 10K.

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I don't know if I will be running the ground starp inside the pipe or not. I would
have to drill holes in the roll bars. The ground strap is tinned c0pper.

And will I need 2 half inch ground straps or would one suffice or would I need more?

[BigBlue 442]

this may help you on the ground question.

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[danoj77]

Would 1 ground strap be enough running inside the pipe and
then exiting through the side at the bottom?

It would be 5.5 to 6 foot long grounding strap/s.

What do you guys/gals think?

1 ground strap should be fine.
2 ground straps maybe more...
Just scrape the paint off and see if it works without any straps.

And here are some pickers. These antennas are just temporary until
the P-10K arrives.

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More pictures have been added just about this current topic. Alot more
then I want to post in this reply. So go check them out! Click below.

[T1g3rEyz3]

Nice work!

[danoj77]

Nice work!

Thanks TigerEyez,
I appreciate it.


Anybody with experience.

Is this a good or bad idea for grounding this setup??

I know how an RF ground works and that short grounding
straps are better. And I think that I have read somewhere
that chrome isn't good at conducting RF so a chrome roll
bar might not be good to ground to.

I need some opinions or facts or experiences.

[BigBlue 442]

Anybody with experience.

Is this a good or bad idea for grounding this setup??

I know how an RF ground works and that short grounding
straps are better. And I think that I have read somewhere
that chrome isn't good at conducting RF so a chrome roll
bar might not be good to ground to.

I need some opinions or facts or experiences.

Use a meter the see if it is grounded. And I have experience I can play Hello Dolly on the piano and I am pretty good at flatting out braided coax shielding to make ground straps. J/K I meant no harm.

[danoj77]

Using a meter (I am assuming that you are referring to a volt meter)
will only tell you if you have a DC ground.

All I am wondering is if one ground strap would be adequate. If not
how many?

And if there are any people out there that are running long grounding
straps with or without problems.