BROADCAST AND SOME SERIOUS HAMs design their station which include provisions to keep the station on the air even during lightning storms so some station are design 24x7x365 even in the face of lightning. You may spend a thousand of Dollars on your tower, antenna and your rigs but don't forget to put a side some $$$ for your earthing system get some advice from a good electrician or engineer......
Ground Rod use at least 2x6 feet copper rod (suggestion cover the earth clamp with high tension tape to protect from water)
Some might suggest to do grounding like this..using RG 8 or RG 213.for your radio....
Look At the Ground Rod Connection....
My Advice is get 2 nos of 6' copper rod use at least 4mm2 electrical cable the bigger the better I used 6mm2 PVC cable and go through the brick wall and into my shack. The most important things is the cable connection at the ground rod if you just connect it by using the clamp supplied I would tell you that kind of joints cannot last long...it will oxidize. The best method is using exotomic weld which most of us cannot afford it. Second method is by drilling a hole and using stainless steel bolts and nuts. Third method using stainless steel hose clamp and clamp the cable using the Hose Clamp. And after you have finished it don't forget to used High Tension Tape to cover the joints that you have done.
Some might suggest to do grounding like this..using RG 8 or RG 213.for your radio....
1" Copper Tape attached to ground rod
Control Box....
Lightning Protection Brushes
This would seem to be much more advantageous to a radio amateur because it would try to prevent lightning, not advocate, and even better, it will slowly discharge the to-be-strike so lightning won't get anywhere else. Good to install on top of the tower.
AC LINES FILTER...
Is good to have AC Lines Filter fitted in your shack this is to reduce some electrical Noise.
It is advisable to installed the SPD for your AC lines in. This SPD is to protect your equipments if there is an electrical spikes or over voltage.
3 PHASE SPD
SINGLE PHASE SPD
De 9M2AU
Boy, this is one of the most comprehensive nuts and bolts presentation I've seen on grounding for lightning protection. What's nice about it is that you put all in one place, the entire continuum of options, from ultimate to ham-practical. Please write me; I'll follow you! Bill K1WMT
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