[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: grounding question



Original poster: Mddeming@xxxxxxx In a message dated 10/7/06 11:58:45 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, tesla@xxxxxxxxxx writes:
Original poster: John <guipenguin@xxxxxxxxx>

Thank you.

If I am going to have my coil running in a science room.... could I
use the metal sink pipe as RF ground?


Hi John,
The final answer to this is MAYBE, Much depends on the construction and layout of the building and if you are using the drain or supply line. Some water systems and waste systems use insulating flanges so the pipe you fasten to may or may not be grounded. Some systems run for significant distances through the building before going to ground. Think antenna with field linkage to nearby cables,or possibly with a long distance to ground, you could be putting a several hundred volt differential on the flush handle down the hall =:0 A DMM will tell you if the sink pipe(s) are grounded, but you will need to check the geometry to make sure the path of least resistance is from the coil to ground and not to anything else that may be "unofficially" grounded to the same pipes. (esp. phone lines in older buildings that are notorious for being connected to things they shouldn't) Someone holding an ungrounded flush handle while depositing acidic material into a grounded drain line (like a urinal) makes an interesting voltage detector. ;-)))

Matt D.