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Re: [TCML] Using tree as RF ground
Or....
You could forget the ground and just use the NST's as counterpoise. I did
that one night with one of my coils. I had fired the coil at DC's place on
his dedicated ground, and had the power ground link disconnected. The coil
ran better than it ever ran before! (6" + 2x 12/60 NST) So sometimes that
can work!
David Weiss
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Lux" <jimlux@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2012 2:31 PM
Subject: Re: [TCML] Using tree as RF ground
How big is your coil?
You're not putting up a vertical radio transmitting antenna, so a "earth"
ground isn't all that important. What *is* important is that whatever is
under the coil is connected to the bottom of the secondary. If your soil
is highly conductive, then driving a stake into works ok, but there are
much better ways to provide the RF return for your coil.
I'd look at getting some chicken wire to roll out and lay on the ground.
The capacitive coupling from the mesh to the ground is pretty good, and,
in any case, the mesh itself works as a better RF return than the soil.
(unless you are in the proverbial hypersaline marshland.. for all we know,
you're on the shores of bonny Salton Sea.. although a big tree would be
unusual there)
The usual rule of thumb is that your counterpoise/ground mat should have a
radius equal to the height of the top of your coil above it. So if your
coil stands 4 feet high, you want about 4 foot radius. What I've done is
stick the chicken wire to some cheap carpet (it makes it easier to roll
up, and it provides a visual cue of "where NOT to stand"..)
I wouldn't hook up to the tree, unless you want to kill it.
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