Grounding. I need to pick your brains.

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Wont bother setting up an outside ground unless I get RF inside the shack.

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That is a mistake. You DO need to ground your feed lines, through transient protectors, outside before they come into the house. And that ground must be bonded to the house utility ground. That is for lightning protection.

When people get wound up about the usual spat over whether or not a "shack ground" or "safety ground" or "equipment ground" are needed, it unnecessarily confuses people. They're ignoring much more important issues.

You'll hear now from people who will say things like "Oh, I've never grounded my feedlines and I've never had a lightning strike". Ignore them. What they're really saying is "I'm too lazy or stupid to do it right and so far have been lucky that lightning hasn't burned down my poorly grounded station"

My solution is this.

1) See dark clouds and hear rubling and flashes of light.
2) Disconnect feed line
3) Toss feed line out window and as far away as possible.
4) Disconnect ethernet cable from computers and shut down and unplug. Turn off and unplug all radios.
5) Sit in dark and pray.

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Originally Posted by n2ize

My solution is this.
5) Sit in dark and pray.

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LOL

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Originally Posted by WN9HJW

You'll hear now from people who will say things like "Oh, I've never grounded my feedlines and I've never had a lightning strike". Ignore them. What they're really saying is "I'm too lazy or stupid to do it right and so far have been lucky that lightning hasn't burned down my poorly grounded station"

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I'll agree here. I'm too lazy and cheap (Not stupid). I know there's the risk, but I wont bother spending $1500 on protection systems for $500 worth of equipment.

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Originally Posted by KC2UGV

I'll agree here. I'm too lazy and cheap (Not stupid). I know there's the risk, but I wont bother spending $1500 on protection systems for $500 worth of equipment.

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This is why I have homeowners insurance.

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Originally Posted by KJ3N

This is why I have homeowners insurance.

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This is probably true, but I rather spend few bucks for GOOD QUALITY surge protectors at the main panels, well pumps, and AC unit. About $150-$200 to do all three, and it's cheap insurance, especially out were we live. A lot of wide open spaces, and crappy power service. In as much as insurance might pay for some of the costs to replace the above items, no water, no AC, food loss, and no everything else for God knows how long while the insurance company plays their games, isn't worth not having some basic protection. Just like a good generator is a must have out here. We've gone days without power many times, and had to rely on the jenny to keep things like the freezers and such running. As far as the radios go, I do the same thing John does. Disconnect the antenna lines, and move them away from the house a bit. Besides, it's a bitch trying to drive a 10 foot copper rod into solid rock. As far as praying in the dark goes; I don't pray, and I have some of my best times in the dark.