[C38] SSB Radio Grounding

[Les]

HI, everyone,
	Do NOT do this.  You run the risk of blowind your alternator diodes
with stray RF.  The specs call for a separate RF ground for good reason.
The engine to ocean ground is via the propshaft, and that doesn't have
sufficient planar area either.  Get the 

Boatowner's Guide to Marine Electronics  by Gordon West.  You can get a
used copy for 6.99 from Amazon.  Read it.  Follow its instructions.

	If you are not a radio amatuer, get the radio professionally installed.
It will save you lots of headaches and be more reliable.  If you are a
radio amatuer moving to marine means just learning what does and doesn't
work.  One thing for sure, get the self sealing tape for connectors
(similar to rigging tape).  Use it on all connectors.  The best process
is to properly assemble the connector, apply some marine silicon sealant
to the fixed part of the shell, then cover that with the self sealing
tape.  After the connectors are joined outside, cover the whole
connection, starting about 1" back on the cable to as good as you can
get beyond the other connector.  This keeps out salt, water, corrosion
and curious birds, all of which can defeat your radio's connections.
(Old ETC talking here with 20 Navy years behind him.)

Regards,
Les H
On Tue, 2008-03-11 at 10:54 -0700, Larry Malmberg wrote:
> Has anyone grounded their SSB to the engine?  If so, how has it worked out?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Larry Malmberg
> Hassle Hull 149
> 
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> 
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