Ground System

I have been purchasing various items for a decent grounding system.

First, at least 2 8 foot grounding rods.  One of which I pounded in just adjacent to my Shack.  I have to drill a quarter inch hole through the cinder block to the grounding connection for some #6 solid copper line to my grounding and Frankenstein board (more on that in a bit).  I also ordered some #6 stranded wire to tie the external grounding rods together, one near the Power Panel for the house and the other near my station.  I may install a third rod depending on how I install the antenna.

I also ordered a grounding plate to mount on a 3/4" plywood board on the wall next to my station.  There is also a frankenstein DPDT switch (4-pole Chinese 100A 380v).  Its a monster of a switch.  I will ground the antenna when not in use... I am more than a bit paranoid about lightening.  I know if it strikes it gives me a "little" bit more protection..

The Switch and Backboard.

I also got this to mount in a 6x6 box outside to the ladder line, It sits on top of a grounding rod.
Comes from the wireman:  (being even more paranoid).  Below the switch will be the grounding plate where I can run individual grounds to my radio (s).  Golly.. I wish I had not sold everything 2 years ago.... now I am building up again.. Thanks to Bob.. W9JOP.

Everything should be in by Thursday.  I "might" be able to get the antenna up by the weekend...

Homebrew Ladder Line and Antenna

I read several articles about ladder line and its benefits.  So, I made one.  The Credits will be listed below this entry.  Some pictures:

Note: I had more pictures of the ladder line build and actual making of the spacers but my phone ate them.. (I went to look for them and they were ALL gone).  I built the ladder line on 12-29 and it was COLD!  Took most of the day to cut the ladder line (100 ft) and the dipole (134 ft).

The spacers were made from 4" electric fence insulators from

Zareba HT4FTI200 4-Inch Fin Tube Insulator 

A box of 200 runs $14.45 .. I still have a 100 left.  Enough for another ladder line.

The insulators were drilled on each end with a .125 (3.175mm) drill with a jig I made for my drill press to insure consistent holes were in the right place at each end,  The insulator is slightly triangular.  The insulators were all faced the same way as I inserted them on the THNN 14g stranded wire from Lowes (500 ft about $50).  I tied the wire between 2 trees and slowly threaded all the insulators on for 100 feet of ladder line.  Then I spaced each insulator 12" (30cm) from each other and used a hot glue gun to squirt glue in each end and a slight dab on each wire.    After about 5+ hours we have what we see.  

Thanks to Rob W1AEX  

Now to get it in the trees.  (Need a good grounding system... I have fried more than one antenna (among other equipment) and had rolling balls of lightning plasma in the basement ! ) .  
Virginia can get nasty lightning at times.. seems I am a magnet though..

Next posting: Putting in a grounding system.

 

Greetings all.  This is a start, rather a restart of my Ham Radio and Circuits Blog.   This site will be continually under construction so to say..
de AI1G