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How to Ground an Element Beam

Commonly used by amateur radio and citizens band (CB) operators, beam antennas consist of multiple horizontal elements mounted parallel to each other on the same boom. A single driven element is connected by cable to the transmitter and beams the signal while one or more passive parasitic elements act as reflectors and directors of the signal. The National Electric Code recommends grounding all external antennas. Grounding cannot protect an antenna from lightning damage caused by a direct hit. However, proper grounding can reduce the possibility of lightning strike in the first place by discharging static build-up. In a multiple-element beam antenna, the director and reflector elements have electrical connection to the mast through the boom and are grounded by a ground wire attached to the mast. The driven element is isolated by insulated mounts from the rest of the antenna and is not grounded.

Things You'll Need

Wire cutters
Open end wrenches
Hammer
Wall staples

Instructions

- 1
  Loosen one of the assembly bolts on the antenna mast as an attachment point for the ground wire. Wrap the end of No. 8 or No. 10 copper or aluminum ground wire around the bolt. Tighten the bolt to secure the wire to the mast.
- 2
  Run the ground wire down to the ground by the shortest, most direct route possible. The ground wire must be a continuous length and contain no splices. Do not make 90-degree or sharper turns in routing the ground wire to the ground. If grounding a rooftop antenna, secure the ground wire to the side of the house at regular intervals using wire staples.
- 3
  Drive a copper-coated ground stake designed for grounding antennas at least 3 feet into soil which is exposed to rain. Do not place the ground stake under wide eaves where the ground is sheltered and always dry. Do not attempt to ground to cold water pipes or other plumbing fixtures in lieu of a proper ground rod.
- 4
  Attach the ground wire to the wire clamp supplied with the stake. Clamp the wire to the stake and tighten the clamp bolt securely to ensure a good connection. Remember that the purpose of the stake is not to ground a typical 1 billion volt direct lightning strike. Its purpose is to continuously bleed off and ground small static charges which accumulate in the antenna and attract lightning. Clean, secure ground wire connections to transmit these low voltages are important at the antenna and on the ground.

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