SSb ground question

[Larry Mace]

I have installed the Icom receiver and tuner and have good reception and now need to tackle the ground in order to transmit. I am looking at using strapping or wire to ground both units and was told stapping is better. I was wondering if I can use the strapping material sold in most hardware stores for supporting copper pipes. I would guess this is also made of copper but do dot know for sure. My boat already has an extensive network of this connecting a large ground plate, thorugh hulls and dynaplate so connecting to this should be fairly easy. Any thoughts?
Larry
CD 33 dolce



lmace@gt.com

[Larry DeMers]

Larry,

Your reception will improve with the addition of the proper ground..as will transmission.
The strapping used on your 33 sounds like the grey perforated metal strapping (it's probably aluminum or tin, not copper due to the cost difference). If this so, it is not as good a conductor as a copper strap that has been tinned for protection from corrosion/oxidation.

You seem to have the grounds all properly tied together however, so why not try it and see what VSWR you can get out of it? Generally, when 'strapping' is talked about in Hamdom, they are referring to a flat and wide (ie:1-2 inches wide) braided and hollow tin-coated copper strapping, which carries the current at the operating frequency better than does a solid conductor, or stranded cabling. Don't forget that RF travels on the surface of a conductor rather than through the middle of the conductor, which makes the material in the center actually useless from the RF standpoint.

So that would be another reason that plain solid strapping is not the best way to do this trick. But since it is installed, I would try it and see if you can get an VSWR of less than say 1.8:1.

Pay close attnetion to your connections. Solder all crimped connectors, then coat them with a dielectric grease to prevent oxidation and water intrusion as well as you can. Every millivolt of drop due to resistance in these connections effects your ground effectivity, and in turn your VSWR ratio.

Good Luck!

Cheers

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 Sailing Lake Superior

I have installed the Icom receiver and tuner and have good reception and now need to tackle the ground in order to transmit. I am looking at using strapping or wire to ground both units and was told stapping is better. I was wondering if I can use the strapping material sold in most hardware stores for supporting copper pipes. I would guess this is also made of copper but do dot know for sure. My boat already has an extensive network of this connecting a large ground plate, thorugh hulls and dynaplate so connecting to this should be fairly easy. Any thoughts?
Larry
CD 33 dolce

demers@sgi.com

[larry m]

Larry,


Thanks for the info. The strapping in my 33 looks just like the copper stuff in the hardware store. The original owners told me they were able to contact Tahiti from Baja using an Icom and the ground they set up. My problem is that I mounted my receiver and tunner in different places so I need to run new connections. Looking at the original strapping the corrosion is very minimal and it does not look like anything was done to it. there is a larger flat(non perforated)piece that runs the length of the bilge that looks somewhat more corroded. You mention copper strap that has been tinned-where can I get this?
Larry M

Larry,

Your reception will improve with the addition of the proper ground..as will transmission.
The strapping used on your 33 sounds like the grey perforated metal strapping (it's probably aluminum or tin, not copper due to the cost difference). If this so, it is not as good a conductor as a copper strap that has been tinned for protection from corrosion/oxidation.

You seem to have the grounds all properly tied together however, so why not try it and see what VSWR you can get out of it? Generally, when 'strapping' is talked about in Hamdom, they are referring to a flat and wide (ie:1-2 inches wide) braided and hollow tin-coated copper strapping, which carries the current at the operating frequency better than does a solid conductor, or stranded cabling. Don't forget that RF travels on the surface of a conductor rather than through the middle of the conductor, which makes the material in the center actually useless from the RF standpoint.

So that would be another reason that plain solid strapping is not the best way to do this trick. But since it is installed, I would try it and see if you can get an VSWR of less than say 1.8:1.

Pay close attnetion to your connections. Solder all crimped connectors, then coat them with a dielectric grease to prevent oxidation and water intrusion as well as you can. Every millivolt of drop due to resistance in these connections effects your ground effectivity, and in turn your VSWR ratio.

Good Luck!

Cheers

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 Sailing Lake Superior

I have installed the Icom receiver and tuner and have good reception and now need to tackle the ground in order to transmit. I am looking at using strapping or wire to ground both units and was told stapping is better. I was wondering if I can use the strapping material sold in most hardware stores for supporting copper pipes. I would guess this is also made of copper but do dot know for sure. My boat already has an extensive network of this connecting a large ground plate, thorugh hulls and dynaplate so connecting to this should be fairly easy. Any thoughts?
Larry
CD 33 dolce

[John R.]

I have installed the Icom receiver and tuner and have good reception and now need to tackle the ground in order to transmit. I am looking at using strapping or wire to ground both units and was told stapping is better. I was wondering if I can use the strapping material sold in most hardware stores for supporting copper pipes. I would guess this is also made of copper but do dot know for sure. My boat already has an extensive network of this connecting a large ground plate, thorugh hulls and dynaplate so connecting to this should be fairly easy. Any thoughts?
Larry
CD 33 dolce

Larry,

Strapping is the only way to go. Wire has inadequate surface area. Remember one thing, the wider the strapping the better. This subject has been discussed several times on the board and you will find a variety of views on how to set up a ground counterpoise. To reduce confusion on the subject and get the "best experienced feedback" pick up a marine electronics book by Gordon West and or Nigel Calder. You can then compare what you already have on board to what options are available to you. For instance I did our boat primarily with copper sheet used as the raw material and some bronze screening, all in addition to the standard bonding system and a Dynaplate. There are a lot of different ways to create an excellent counterpoise. As L.D. mentioned the quality of the connections you make are very important as well.

[Larry DeMers]

Hi,

I have ordered it from Newark Electronics or any industrial supplier. Newark is nice because they do have City Desks at some of their sites, which will cater to the individual.

I'll try to remember to look in the Newark catalog at work tomorrow morning and then repost a note to you wiht their part number and cost.

Larry DeMers
s/v deLaMer

Larry,


Thanks for the info. The strapping in my 33 looks just like the copper stuff in the hardware store. The original owners told me they were able to contact Tahiti from Baja using an Icom and the ground they set up. My problem is that I mounted my receiver and tunner in different places so I need to run new connections. Looking at the original strapping the corrosion is very minimal and it does not look like anything was done to it. there is a larger flat(non perforated)piece that runs the length of the bilge that looks somewhat more corroded. You mention copper strap that has been tinned-where can I get this?
Larry M

Larry,

Your reception will improve with the addition of the proper ground..as will transmission.
The strapping used on your 33 sounds like the grey perforated metal strapping (it's probably aluminum or tin, not copper due to the cost difference). If this so, it is not as good a conductor as a copper strap that has been tinned for protection from corrosion/oxidation.

You seem to have the grounds all properly tied together however, so why not try it and see what VSWR you can get out of it? Generally, when 'strapping' is talked about in Hamdom, they are referring to a flat and wide (ie:1-2 inches wide) braided and hollow tin-coated copper strapping, which carries the current at the operating frequency better than does a solid conductor, or stranded cabling. Don't forget that RF travels on the surface of a conductor rather than through the middle of the conductor, which makes the material in the center actually useless from the RF standpoint.

So that would be another reason that plain solid strapping is not the best way to do this trick. But since it is installed, I would try it and see if you can get an VSWR of less than say 1.8:1.

Pay close attnetion to your connections. Solder all crimped connectors, then coat them with a dielectric grease to prevent oxidation and water intrusion as well as you can. Every millivolt of drop due to resistance in these connections effects your ground effectivity, and in turn your VSWR ratio.

Good Luck!

Cheers

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 Sailing Lake Superior

I have installed the Icom receiver and tuner and have good reception and now need to tackle the ground in order to transmit. I am looking at using strapping or wire to ground both units and was told stapping is better. I was wondering if I can use the strapping material sold in most hardware stores for supporting copper pipes. I would guess this is also made of copper but do dot know for sure. My boat already has an extensive network of this connecting a large ground plate, thorugh hulls and dynaplate so connecting to this should be fairly easy. Any thoughts?
Larry
CD 33 dolce

demers@sgi.com