Apartment Grounding Dilemma (

[@cleibs11]

Hello Dave, I've enjoyed watching your videos over the years and appreciate your commitment to helping other Hams. I notice in this video that you stated that the negative output terminal to you Samlex SEC-1235M is connected to the chassis and by extension the ground terminal of the 120V input. I own the same power supply and my owners manual specifically states that the negative output is isolated from the ground input. It says that random RF noise generated by the power supply circuit is fed to the chassis and dissipated there. They caution against connecting the DC output to ground, to avoid bring this noise into the radio system. Thanks again for your videos.

[@brucestarr4438]

The Green wire is not the neutral wire, it is the ground/earth wire. They are different. The single phase 110ACV 3 wires colors are Black Hot, White Neutral, and Green Ground/Earth. Also in the USA, by the NEC, you can only have one ground in a building. All grounds have to be at and through the ground at the electrical panel.

[@jampskan5690]

He's saying your neutral and ground wires are bonded in your service entry panel. Honestly this was a the best description I've heard given without straight up giving NEC references. If you have all of your radio gear powered from the same power supply its essentially at the same potential. BTW, take a dmm switch it to volts ac and tell me what you get across the hot and ground. 1:1 BalUns are your friend in an apartment.

[@ER1FM]

Thanks Dave, I'll ask my building manager about it. I have a multi band dipole installed on the roof. And I'm more worried about the safety rather than the noise. Eliminating a small amount of noise will be a bonus.

[@daveroche6522]

Thumbs-up David - just getting started in RadioComms here so everything is part of the learning curve - mucho appreciated - thank you Sir.

[@Swede_4_TRMP]

Greetings from Sweden! You, Sir, are a lexicon! I hope all is well with you and your loved ones.

[@vironpayne3405]

I am indifferent to the new video format, but as a camera operator I can say that Callum is doing a great job. Kudos to Callum.

[@anthonyrosa5006]

In many buildings that have balconies they place apt water heaters in a closet on the balcony and they have a heavy bare copper ground wire as I recall. This was from years back in Dallas and San Diego. Perhaps colder climates don't do this.

[@danev1969]

Ilya, In at least many older apartments, steam radiators and metal water pipes are often grounded out of necessity. Also, many (again older) apartments have a fuse box or circuit breaker (often in a closet or hallway) that must be grounded as well (the metal box that houses the fuses must be grounded by code). I agree that if everything is working, don’t bother with grounding. That said, if a ground must be added, turn to what may already be in your apartment. Great question, 73. KJ7YBK

[@ER1FM]

Yeah, that's an option. The only problem is that my steam radiators have PVC pipes :(

[@chriskaprys]

I'm in a similar situation - 2nd floor, wood balcony, HOA - but upon some inspection I've noticed that there's an old cable TV coax that's running into my place from somewhere buried in the ground (?). It's already clipped into the building and painted to match, but it's not in use - the more recent cable/internet install is an obvious new black wire that took a slightly different route. I bet I could convert the ground end of the coax to hook up to a copper rod; it'd be very discrete. Sharing in case someone else in an apartment can relate with old coax installs that were never uninstalled.

[@BryanTorok]

Dave, you should be aware that the person asking this question is from Moldova. They do NOT have a 120/240V split phase power system with a neutral wire. They have 230V 50Hz. single-phase power WITHOUT a neutral wire. So, the green wire ground is actually just a ground wire. I'm going to have to check my several DC power supplies (linear and switching) to see if the negative terminal is actually connected to the power ground. Everything else you said is pretty much on the money.

[@davecasler]

I've checked several DC power supplies, and the output ground is connected straight through to the input green wire ground.

[@rogerlafrance6355]

The rebar and concrete are not bad RF grounds, if you can access them. If you can't laying aluminum foil under a carpet will couple into the rebar/ and steel planking. If there is a floor above, you may see the planking in the ceiling. If they let you, running painted aluminum Duct Tape down to the ground would provide a better RF ground.

[@villevapa194]

Thanks for the informative and well filmed video! I have to suggest that you reconsider your thumbnail. It gives the impresson that you are greeting certain leader from the 30's.

[@miniek83]

Thank you Sir for this video!

[@r111k]

Even in an indoor antenna, doesn’t static electricity build up in your coax which can discharge when built up to a high enough level, creating a shock/fire hazard? Or can I ignore grounding concerns in my case, where I have an efhw wire antenna in my attic with coax running through the wall into an interior room then to the radio?

[@ChrisRomp]

Hi Dave - Unrelated question: I noticed the videos on your Technician Exam playlist are no longer available. I was going to point a friend to those. Were they taken down on purpose?

[@davecasler]

Point your friend to www.KE0OG.net/training. All the videos are listed there and will direct you to the correct place. You can also go to learn.ARRL.org and look for the technician training course. The ARRL has slightly rebranded my videos. Good luck with your studying!

[@dfmayes]

The video format is great.

[@billtheslink4541]

I have a suggestion. Of course your plugs should ground to the receptacle for safety ground. For RF ground try MFJ artificial ground. I use it for my shack on an EFHW. I have to use one here due to being on bedrock just two inches below ground and can't put in a ground rod. It reduces noise but like you say is touchy.

[@davecasler]

Thanks for the tip!

[@erpece]

Great topic. May I suggest that Callum uses a monopod? Less shaky videos and he can still follow you around...

[@davecasler]

We have a new DJI camera on order that should fix the problem. Hopefully it will be here by next week.

[@Davidjb37721]

Did thank Power supply being grounded thanks good Information

[@JDHood]

I would need to hear his requirements on what type/purpose of ground he's looking for? Electrical safety grounding? Lightning protection grounding? RF ground/counterpoise? There are different solutions depending on the problem he's trying to solve.

[@ER1FM]

Lightning protection ground in the first place. I have a dipole with a balun installed on the roof

[@dancarriger]

I have a heating radiator system. Wool it be sufficient to clamp a ground wire to it?

[@JDHood]

@@dancarriger It depends on what you are trying to accomplish with the ground **AND** if the radiator system is conductive from your clamp all the way to earth. It might work for a static bleed and/or an RF ground, but I would not rely on it for lightning protection.

[@davecasler]

Probably not, because you may not have a copper connection all the way to ground. Most fresh water supply pipes are plastic anymore.

[@CharlotteCaniac]

I have a second floor ham shack with antennas in the attic. No ground and works great.

[@ER1FM]

What about lightning protection?

[@CharlotteCaniac]

@@ER1FM same lightning protection as the tv and other electronics. My antennas also aren’t at risk because they’re in the attic and not the highest point.

[@davecasler]

All bets are off with a direct strike. I once had a direct strike. Fortunately my radio is disconnected from everything. But it ruined the garage door opener, and the modem in my computer. It evaporated my antenna and blew out the coax. It was also very, very, very loud.

[@iz1907]

Just in time

[@markpoweski3470]

A dipole with ham sticks will work.

[@jeremyshiver6055]

I got a lot of noise coming out of my radio in my truck

[@davecasler]

Check your connections. If it's ignition noise or intermod, you may have better luck on all channels. I'm assuming you're talking about a VHF mobile rig.

[@jeremyshiver6055]

@@davecasler yes sir

[@willhansen6922]

The green wire is not the neutral.

[@624radicalham]

This is hilarious. Seems an entire generation of old amateur radio operators have no idea what an MFJ Artificial Ground is or how to use one (despite it being on sale for over 40 years) because they've always had proper antennas. Welcome to the 21st century where most people can't have proper antennas. Learn to recommend an artificial ground Dave. They work. Period.