Apologies for breaking threading.
Paul G4LNA wrote:
> Just run a wire to a rod outside, it doesn't matter how long the
> wire is, as you say it's not an RF ground. I wouldn't use the gas
> pipe for safety reasons.
This advice is dangerous and doesn't even really achieve what one needs
to achieve.
It's dangerous because, if there is a fault which connects live to any
exposed metalwork, you have introduced a low resistance path to earth
into an environment where the the fault was much less dangerous because
only high resistance return paths existed.
What you are really trying to do make sure that all, even partially,
conducting surfaces are at the same voltage, including you and the
soldering iron tip. Normally you can rely on internal surfaces being
insulated or connected to mains earth, because that is what modern
electrical codes require, so it is normally appropriate to connect the
mat to mains earth.
As far as I know, in the UK, you would have electricity supply refused
if you had two wire mains sockets (shaver sockets are specially
isolated), except for environments which are specifically designed to be
earth free, in which case you would not be allowed to have anything
connected to earth.
If you only have two wire sockets, or, more generally, if you do not
know how the mains earth is arranged, you really need to consult a
competent electrician before doing anything that involves earthing at DC
to mains frequencies. You should treat any metal connected to true
earth, and inside, as though it was at mains voltage, and you should
treat any wires going to the outside, as being at mains voltage, when
outside.
My own guess is that you either need to completely rewire to include an
earth wire and properly earth all relevant appliances and bond other
conductive surfaces to that earth, or to establish a work area that is a
body's length from any electrical outlet, or equipment, provide
conductive flooring, bond all surfaces electrically and use a battery
powered soldering iron. (Your electrical codes may be more specific
about the separation distance.) I think there are variations on this
that provide some mains power, but I wouldn't want to suggest anything
without detailed knowledge of local electrical codes.
In general, if you put in earth rods, they must be connected to the
mains earth or completely isolated from the electrical system, by
sufficient distance that it is impossible to touch anything that can
come into contact to one of them at the same time as anything that can
come into contact with the other.
WY5Q wrote:
>
My house does not have grounded electrical outlets. What is the best
way to protect against static during assembly of the K3 kit? Ground
the mat to a ground rod outside? Or to a metal gas pipe (for
grounding me, not as RF ground!)? There are no water pipes accessible
my build location.
--
David Woolley
"The Elecraft list is a forum for the discussion of topics related to
Elecraft products and more general topics related ham radio"
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