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Earthing and the radio amateur

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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0 Former Community Member over 5 years ago

I would happily export a TNCS earth to a remote shed as long as all metalwork was bonded or earthed as appropriate.

The radio equipment will perhaps run off DC via an internal AC/DC transformer to reduce the voltage and bridge rectifier to change the AC to DC so i would expect an earth fault path from the AC system is perhaps impossible until you attach your ~~home made lighting rod~~ radio aerial to the MET.

I would be tempted not to bond the aerial at all as that might introduce a shock risk that would otherwise not be there and could introduce interference from DNO network currents flowing through the aerial to the MET but would of course bow down to greater knowledge.
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0 Former Community Member over 5 years ago

I would happily export a TNCS earth to a remote shed as long as all metalwork was bonded or earthed as appropriate.

The radio equipment will perhaps run off DC via an internal AC/DC transformer to reduce the voltage and bridge rectifier to change the AC to DC so i would expect an earth fault path from the AC system is perhaps impossible until you attach your ~~home made lighting rod~~ radio aerial to the MET.

I would be tempted not to bond the aerial at all as that might introduce a shock risk that would otherwise not be there and could introduce interference from DNO network currents flowing through the aerial to the MET but would of course bow down to greater knowledge.
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Earthing and the radio amateur

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