Here's an interesting article about grounding. While it available from a website that i've frequented before, i never ran into it. Steve Eddy was kind enough to post a link to it on AA and i think that it's worth checking out. That is, IF one wants to learn about AC systems and grounding. It is in PDF ( Adobe Acrobat ) format, so you'll have to deal with loading up, etc...
Grounding: what works and what doesn't.
Something else that i noticed in this article that is worth repeating. Large gauge solid copper wires ( actually flat & wide sheets like those used in Goertz speaker cables ) are more effective at conducting signals over a wider frequency range than stranded wire or braided straps. By "braided straps", i'm talking about the woven braid that looks like coaxial shielding that is commonly used for "ground strap" in automotive / dc applications.
As this article points out, there are VAST differences between what makes up a good AC and DC ground. Taking that a step further, even a good AC ground may not be a good RF ground. As such, achieving a good low resistance ground over the widest possible bandwidth is what will work optimally. After all, shunting RFI to ground and then having a ground that is not conductive at those frequencies simply turns your ground wire into an antenna to re-radiate the signal. NOT good but probably more common than most think. Sean
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PS... use more solid wire, use more solid wire, use more solid wire, use more solid wire : )
Grounding: what works and what doesn't.
Something else that i noticed in this article that is worth repeating. Large gauge solid copper wires ( actually flat & wide sheets like those used in Goertz speaker cables ) are more effective at conducting signals over a wider frequency range than stranded wire or braided straps. By "braided straps", i'm talking about the woven braid that looks like coaxial shielding that is commonly used for "ground strap" in automotive / dc applications.
As this article points out, there are VAST differences between what makes up a good AC and DC ground. Taking that a step further, even a good AC ground may not be a good RF ground. As such, achieving a good low resistance ground over the widest possible bandwidth is what will work optimally. After all, shunting RFI to ground and then having a ground that is not conductive at those frequencies simply turns your ground wire into an antenna to re-radiate the signal. NOT good but probably more common than most think. Sean
>
PS... use more solid wire, use more solid wire, use more solid wire, use more solid wire : )