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Re: RF ground quality



>>From sgreiner-at-mail.wwnet-dot-comSun Sep  8 20:45:33 1996
>Date: Sun, 08 Sep 1996 15:42:26 -0700
>From: Skip Greiner <sgreiner-at-mail.wwnet-dot-com>
>To: tesla list <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
>Subject: RF ground quality

>I think I may have posted this earlier but if so I did not see any
>answers.

>Question: Is there any way to test the QUALITY / INTEGRITY of the RF
>ground system other than running a TC against it.

>Thanks

>Skip

Skip,

If your ground network consists of a number of metallic objects 
(ground rods, scrap automobiles, surplus submarines, etc.) buried in 
the earth with a number greater than one, I would take a DC Ohmmeter 
measurement between them for starters. A really low reading in the 
single digits would indicate that they were 'in contact' with the 
earth, the lower ohms reading obviously, the better.   One of the tests which I 
would follow with, considering that the power company sends us 
electricity referenced to earth as the 'other conductor' in the case 
of single phase distribution, would be to try to light a large lamp 
load at 120 volts from your domestic 'hot' 120 volt line and your 
ground system.  If your ground system ain't there, the lamps won't 
light.  If you can illuminate 1000 watts worth of incandescent lamps 
and the voltmeter measured voltage across the lamps is the same as 
the applied line voltage measured at the box to neutral, your ground 
is excellent, at least up to 1000 watts it is.

If you do this after rain, you might see a lot of earthworms 
surfacing after or during your test.  Electrifying the ground in your 
back yard with driven metal rods and light bulbs in series with them 
and the AC line was a project I remember seeing way back in a 1950's 
vintage Popular Something magazine to get fishing bait.  

Good luck, and good fishing :)

rwstephens