Turning a Literal Shack Into a Ham Shack (#982)

Ray was studying to for his tech and he is going to turn his yard barn into a radio shack. He is wondering if he needs to connectto his home power or can use a solar system. Watch to learn more about his options and to be safe.

Edited and Videographed by Aidan Jakeman

Twitter: @dcasler

[bassangler]

Nice to hear you always emphasize grounds!!! Grounds are always on the fix it later list...Until they are needed..

[denverbraughler]

* service panel(s).

Neutral and ground are bonded in your first box(es), your service panel(s) or service disconnect(s), and nowhere downstream - not even in a main panel.

[denverbraughler]

I listened twice and I’m pretty sure that you misexplained this one part.

Run separate neutral and equipment grounding conductors in parallel with the ungrounded (hot) conductor(s) from the house to the shack.

Do not skimp on wire size. Use at least 6 AWG for ground and 8 AWG for neutral to carry noise and stray voltage to ground.

At the shack, connect the equipment grounding conductor to the ground rod, metal frames, etc, via 6 AWG or larger copper wire or strap — as correctly stated.

* Do not run a separate wire back to the utility. If you do, it is certain that return current will be carried over your ground conductor, which is exactly what you don’t want.

From time to time, put an ammeter around your ground conductor each of at two test points: between your shack, and your house, and between your shack, and the ground rod.

[denverbraughler]

If everything is wired correctly, your shack can be supplied by a GFCI-protected breaker.