WSCU736 Posted May 23 Report Share Posted May 23 Can I ground to copper water pipes inside my basement? Or do I need a more direct grouding with a grounding rod? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3 SteveShannon Posted May 23 Report Share Posted May 23 40 minutes ago, Jasper said: Can I ground to copper water pipes inside my basement? Or do I need a more direct grouding with a grounding rod? If you’re grounding an antenna ground it outside. Don’t invite lightning into your house. Here’s the best short document on antenna grounding that I know of: https://reeve.com/Documents/Articles Papers/Reeve_AntennaSystemGroundingRequirements.pdf WRXB215, JBRPong, WRYZ926 and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 WRQD922 Posted May 23 Report Share Posted May 23 (edited) Grounding Amateur radio and Amateur radio antenna’s are different from Gmrs radio’s and antennas ? Please explain. I think anyone would benefit from WRQW589 post. Edited May 23 by WRQD922 Mistake dosw and WRXB215 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 WRYZ926 Posted May 23 Report Share Posted May 23 4 hours ago, nokones said: But, this is a GMRS Forum and not a Amateur Radio Forum so how would a GMRS licensee would benefit from that? Anyways, the grounding system should be in accordance with the National Electrical Code You answered your own question on how properly grounding would benefit a GMRS licensee. It doesn't matter what type of license you have, properly grounding your antenna system is for safety reasons per the National Electrical Code. I see this conversation going south quickly, especially if someone recommends putting the end of their coax in a glass jar during a storm. I will suggest that everyone reads the link that @Sshannon posted above. WRXB215 and WRUU653 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 WSCU736 Posted May 23 Author Report Share Posted May 23 1 minute ago, WRXP381 said: Can and should and what home insurance will accept is all totally different. The answer really is ask your home owners insurance. So, its not a good idea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 WSCU736 Posted May 23 Author Report Share Posted May 23 15 minutes ago, Sshannon said: If you’re grounding an antenna ground it outside. Don’t invite lightning into your house. Here’s the best short document on antenna grounding that I know of: https://reeve.com/Documents/Articles Papers/Reeve_AntennaSystemGroundingRequirements.pdf Okay a grounding rod outside it is. Thanks for all the help. WRXB215 and SteveShannon 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 dosw Posted May 23 Report Share Posted May 23 The amateur technician license exam has some opinions on the topic. Sharp bends in the grounding wire must be avoided, connections should be short and direct, feed line lightning arrestor should be connected to a grounded panel near where the feed line enters the building, grounding rods should be bound together with heavy wire or conductive strap, and tower legs should have independent 8 foot rods sunk into the ground. At least I think those are the answers most relevent to this question. WRQD922 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 WRXB215 Posted May 23 Report Share Posted May 23 1 hour ago, Sshannon said: Don’t invite lightning into your house. That ^^^^^ WRUU653, JBRPong and WRXR255 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 gortex2 Posted May 24 Report Share Posted May 24 Or if your really bored or really want a proper ground system read this... https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/Lands_ROW_Motorola_R56_2005_manual.pdf AdmiralCochrane, SteveShannon, WRUU653 and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 WRXB215 Posted May 24 Report Share Posted May 24 @gortex2 I'm never bored but I'll probably read it anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 SteveShannon Posted May 24 Report Share Posted May 24 Just now, WRXB215 said: @gortex2 I'm never bored but I'll probably read it anyway. Not quickly. But it is the reference manual for building a nearly lightning proof repeater station. When you think of all the repeaters that are on Forest Service or BLM land and the fact that people don’t unplug their coaxial cables and put them into jars every time a storm is forecast, this manual is why. But it’s long. Too much for most people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 WRXB215 Posted May 24 Report Share Posted May 24 1 minute ago, Sshannon said: Too much for most people. But I'm not "most people" I'm "some p..." wait, scratch that. WRUU653 and SteveShannon 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 SteveShannon Posted May 24 Report Share Posted May 24 4 minutes ago, WRXB215 said: But I'm not "most people" I'm "some p..." wait, scratch that. I have never read the entire thing, so I’m in the most people category (when I’m not busy being “some people” (credit to @OffRoaderX). WRUU653, WRXB215 and AdmiralCochrane 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 WRYZ926 Posted May 24 Report Share Posted May 24 Another thing to consider is static electricity. Static will build up on your antennas and has to have somewhere to go. I would rather have static electricity go to an outside ground versus following the coax all the way to my equipment. The links provided are worth reading, even if they are long. WRUU653 and SteveShannon 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 WRVR303 Posted May 29 Report Share Posted May 29 When I was getting ready to install an antenna on my roof, I carefully read through the Reeves article several times. Then I bought a copy of the 2023 National Electrical Code (it's 900 pages) and proceeded to study it. Lets just say I followed Reeves to "T" because the NEC isn't exactly easily understood. (I suspect 9 out of 10 electricians couldn't understand it--they might know how to do everything to code, but not be able to read it, lol) SteveShannon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 SteveShannon Posted May 29 Report Share Posted May 29 2 hours ago, WRVR303 said: When I was getting ready to install an antenna on my roof, I carefully read through the Reeves article several times. Then I bought a copy of the 2023 National Electrical Code (it's 900 pages) and proceeded to study it. Lets just say I followed Reeves to "T" because the NEC isn't exactly easily understood. (I suspect 9 out of 10 electricians couldn't understand it--they might know how to do everything to code, but not be able to read it, lol) I like how Reeves distills the requirements for antennas. I serve on the NFPA (but not the technical committee that does the NEC) and it’s difficult writing code that’s clear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 tweiss3 Posted May 29 Report Share Posted May 29 As stated above, the NEC is minimum, the R56 manual is significantly above the minimum, but is a industry standard designed to protect the millions of dollars of equipment in the RF shack at the base of towers as well as prevent damage to other infrastructure connected from outside. Note, in the event of a lightning strike to a site built to R56, the antenna will be destroyed, and likely the coax on the tower will need replacement, but the remainder of the equipment should survive. SteveShannon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-1 nokones Posted May 23 Report Share Posted May 23 2 hours ago, WRQW589 said: The amateur technician license exam has some opinions on the topic. But, this is a GMRS Forum and not a Amateur Radio Forum so how would a GMRS licensee would benefit from that? Anyways, the grounding system should be in accordance with the National Electrical Code JBRPong 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-3 WRXP381 Posted May 23 Report Share Posted May 23 28 minutes ago, Jasper said: So, its not a good idea? Some one else may say yea or no. All I’ll say is ask insurance. You don’t want to have an issue down the road and not be covered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-4 WRXP381 Posted May 23 Report Share Posted May 23 Can and should and what home insurance will accept is all totally different. The answer really is ask your home owners insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Question
WSCU736
Can I ground to copper water pipes inside my basement? Or do I need a more direct grouding with a grounding rod?
Link to comment
Share on other sites
19 answers to this question
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.