SSB installation question

[PaulJ]

I am installing an SSB in my steel boat. The installation instructions state that the case of the transceiver should be grounded…… but to what? Since it is a steel boat I have taken great care to isolate the electrical system from the hull and whilst I understand that the ATU has to be grounded to the hull to provide a counterpoise, I am a bit nervous about grounding the transceiver because as far as I can see, this will connect the negative side of the whole electrical system to the hull.

Would it be sufficient to ground the transceiver to the negative side of the boat’s electrical system which in turn is grounded to the engine but insulated from the hull ? On the other hand, if I have to ground the ATU anyway, does it make any difference if I also ground the transceiver ?

Would a practical solution be to put switches in the grounding straps and only make those connections when the SSB is in use so as not to provide a permanent route for any electrical “leaks”…..?


<hr width=100% size=1>I used to have an open mind but my brains kept falling out.....

 

[Stingo]

Have a look at the <font color=blue><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.stingo.co.uk>http://www.stingo.co.uk - now showing on a computer near you</font color=blue>

 

[Talbot]

Icom USA have a downloadable book on SSB, and one chapter deals with grounding, it is available <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.icomamerica.com/downloads/ssb_book/chptr8.pdf>here</A>

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[jerryat]

Hi Paul,

I am sure that you do not need to ground the transceiver itself as well as the ATU. I have installed HF transceivers on several boats, including my own, over the years and have never done so. My own radio's installation instructions also advised grounding, but very experienced radio pro and amateur friends disagreed. I was concerned about perhaps generating extraneous 'noise, but they were right, and there have been no problems at all.

According to knowledgeable people like Herb, who has weather routed us across the pond at different times, our signal is consistently excellent and often far superior to even many boats with higher output units (and we often relay!) and we have a grp boat! Out of interest, my Lowe HF150 receiver info also says ground it, but I've never done so and get fabulous reception.

Frankly, having a steel boat, you have the very best counterpoise set-up it's possible to get on a small craft and I would not ground the transceiver until you've tried it without. My belief is that you will never bother.

Hope this helps

Jerry

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[PaulJ]

Many thanks to all for responding.

Stingo, I have looked at the Sailmail website, a veritable mine of information and interestingly they suggest a solution which was also proposed by "Ships Cat" in another place. I have already been out and got the bits for the capacitive grounding strap that they suggested..... 'Haven't tried it yet though. Oh and...... keep up the good work, I think it is very noble of you to travel all that way just to teach Brazilian girls to speak English..... ;o)

Talbot, thanks for the link. There is also a huge amount of information on this Icom site though they say very little about the specific problems associated with metal boats. As I said to Stingo, I have decided, at least in the first instance, to try the capacitive grounding strap detailed on the Sailmail site.

Jerry, many thanks for the info. It is nice to know that I you have had no problems with not grounding the transceiver itself. In the first instance I will have just the one one capacitive strap to ground the ATU and see how it performs.

Thanks again to all for taking the time to respond.

Paul.

<hr width=100% size=1>I used to have an open mind but my brains kept falling out.....