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Title: Grounding anodized push-up mast Post by: K6JEK on February 12, 2023, 01:19:57 PM Do I need to ground an anodized, push-up aluminum mast? I can’t figure out how.
It’s a Mastwerks 7 meter mast intended for portable operation. I’d like to leave it up at home for an extended period. The sections are anodized which acts like a thin layer of insulation so the sections are insulated from each other. Scraping away a bit on the bottom section and connecting there would only ground that one section. Should I just forget about it? Other stuff is carefully bounded and grounded just like the book says. Title: Re: Grounding anodized push-up mast Post by: Opcom on February 16, 2023, 12:39:14 AM That's pretty light stuff, maybe not good to go drilling into it or anything. Is the inside also anodized?
How about attaching a ground cable to the metal antenna mount up at the top, and hanging it down the mast or zip-tie it, all the way down to the ground stake at the bottom? https://www.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-25-ft-6-Gauge-Solid-SD-Bare-Copper-Grounding-Wire-10638525/202562793 #6 welding cable is flexible and about $1.75/FT, but it has insulation sure to make a fiery stench when hit by lightning. Where's all the cheap wire at? Can't comment on the safety aspects but I'm thinking along the lines of, if it were a wooden or fibergalss mast. Title: Re: Grounding anodized push-up mast Post by: KD6VXI on February 16, 2023, 09:09:18 AM I used a 40 foot Rohn push up pole for almost a decade. AMfone - Dedicated to Amplitude Modulation on the Amateur Radio Bands
I didn't worry about grounding it. I was below the ground carrier wire on all the high volt lines around me. My 10 meter ground plane was higher than the 4p foot pole (32 footish extended). I figured it was probably the safest antenna at the house at the time. --Shane WP2ASS / ex KD6VXI |