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Earthing and the radio amateur

Stewart Mason
I've recently joined the IET forums. I replied to a  topic regarding amateur radio and PME on the old forum. Unfortunately I cant access the old forum anymore so I thought it would be best to start a new topic.


So. On the bench there is a transceiver with a metal case. Next to the transceiver there is a antenna tuning unit which is connected to a antenna system which is using an earth rod. Am I right in saying there is a chance of a potential difference between the two metal cases of the equipment regardless if it is a TT, TNS or TNCS?


What would be the ideal solution?  Put the shack on it's own TT supply and bond all the radio equipment back to the MET of the TT and if a earth rod is used for the antennas connect that back to the MET also?


If the TT system was not an option what would be best if the supply was a PME and you didn't want to use balanced antennas removing the use of an earth rod? 


To be honest I've never really given PME's and amateur radio much thought which in hindsight was probably a mistake. I do remember when I did my training an earth rod was recommended for the radios.


Apologies for being so random.


Stewart M0SDM
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    Michael Williams-Davies:

    I am considering putting my ham rig my bedroom.  The property is PME fed.  I thought I would use an mains isolation transformer 240v - 240v  1.5Kw and isolate the earth at output sockets.  There is a radiator in the bedroom which is fairly close to where the station will be.


    The antenna has an earth rod installed well outside the PME field of anywhere.  The station has an earth bar to which all metalwork of the station is connected.


    This is like a fully isolated TT supply with no connection  to the MET and fully isolated (by TX) line connections.


    Your comments would be appreciated.


    Mike. GW6UWW


    I'm not 100% sure I've pictured this correctly - is the output from your isolation transformer referenced to your local earth (forming a TT system) or is it floating (forming a separated system feeding (possibly) more than one item of current using equipment)?


    Either way you seem to have two different earthing systems (your local "TT" one on the radio kit and the PME one on the radiator) within easy reach of each other - which remains the fundamental problem.


        - Andy.


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  • 0
    Michael Williams-Davies:

    I am considering putting my ham rig my bedroom.  The property is PME fed.  I thought I would use an mains isolation transformer 240v - 240v  1.5Kw and isolate the earth at output sockets.  There is a radiator in the bedroom which is fairly close to where the station will be.


    The antenna has an earth rod installed well outside the PME field of anywhere.  The station has an earth bar to which all metalwork of the station is connected.


    This is like a fully isolated TT supply with no connection  to the MET and fully isolated (by TX) line connections.


    Your comments would be appreciated.


    Mike. GW6UWW


    I'm not 100% sure I've pictured this correctly - is the output from your isolation transformer referenced to your local earth (forming a TT system) or is it floating (forming a separated system feeding (possibly) more than one item of current using equipment)?


    Either way you seem to have two different earthing systems (your local "TT" one on the radio kit and the PME one on the radiator) within easy reach of each other - which remains the fundamental problem.


        - Andy.


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