The subject of grounding

In the past weeks I had some questions about interference on VDSL2 modems and another question  if grounding would be necessary. So I was searching in my blog archive as I have been studying the subject several times. And even after studying, I could do some things wrong. So this is a small list from my previous articles about grounding and/or a shack earth point.

https://pe4bas.blogspot.nl/2013/08/shack-rf-ground.html
https://pe4bas.blogspot.nl/2013/09/the-rf-surpression-ground-system-myth.html
https://pe4bas.blogspot.nl/2014/11/shack-rf-combined-earth.html
https://pe4bas.blogspot.nl/2013/11/making-second-floor-shack-ground.html

And this is what happens with static electricity build up when a thunderstorm is nearby. The reason why I have a ground at my antenna entrance.

https://pe4bas.blogspot.nl/2016/07/shocking.html

Not that I always have a clue what I am talking about, but at least I try....
Best written articles about grounding can be found at

http://www.w8ji.com/ground_systems.htm

And even I made a fault to include a knife switch in my installation which was completely unnecessary.

So what I've learned:

- A ground in your shack which is bonded to a earth electrode is for safety. It is not a RF ground.
- Use a entrance panel for your coax and other cables that is grounded well outside the house.
- If possible ground your antenna supporting mast as well
- Prevent earthloops, they are a source of much RF problems.

A good tool for measuring is a simple multimeter. If you seem to have problems anywere try to find that second or even third uneccessary ground connection and remove it. Remember that the shield of your coax is ground as well. So a extra wire for example from your radio to the entrance panel is only giving you a groundloop and so, this is not necessary at all. For grounds sake, less is better in grounds case!

Think about this: Most of the mains grounds are bonded to the case of a appliance. In our case as radioamateurs we always have a power supply which is bonded through the ground via the mains connector cable. Most computers have this ground as well on the same mains net. A extra ground wire from the computer to your ground is not necessary (ground loop again). However, if you do digital modes you have your soundcard connected to your radio, is the ground from your connectors grounded to the mains ground in the computer? You could have a problem (ground loop). In my case the ground of my mains connecting cable is also bonded to my negative pole on the 13,8V output in my Astron RS-50A power supply, I've had a lot of groundloop problems before I discovered this. That's why measuring with a simple multimeter is important! 

Ground paths in my shack...green strokes are grounded.

Above the main net supplies, 12VDC supplies, coax and ground paths in my shack. My power supply has no galavanic connection to the main electricity net. The computer does however. Nothing is connected to main net safety earth. Everything is connected to the shacks own earth electrode which is bonded to my entrance panel. There is no separate earth wire connection to the entrance panel, I trust the coax shield is my earth connection. However, if a thunderstorm is nearby I disconnect the coax from the entrance panel leaving my equipment un-earthed. But that's no problem as I always switch my mains net off in the shack (have 2 master switches for both wall outlets) in that case. The central earth point is there but is only connected to a counterpoise which is existing of strokes alu foil tape below the floor. The radio is earthed through the coax connected to the Palstar tuner.

I don't say the above writing is the truth and nothing else. It is like other posts for archive purposes as well. I might think completely different in a couple of years...at least I've the feeling I'm safe this way.