Grounding / Lightning / Station Safety

Plan a safer station before the next storm rolls in.

Single-point ground panels, coax entry panels, ground rod layout concepts, lightning arrestor mounting, shack bonding, ferrite placement, and disconnect checklists.

View safety projects Open storm checklist

BOND Common groundENTRY Coax panelSTORM Disconnect

Safety Note

Bonding is a system.

Lightning protection and grounding are location-specific and must follow electrical code. Use this page as a planning guide, not a substitute for a qualified electrician or local code.

Bond all grounds into one system.
Mount protectors at the cable entry point.
Disconnect antennas before storms when possible.

Before A Storm

Saved disconnect checklist

Check off your own storm-prep steps. The browser saves this list on the device.

DIY Planning Library

Grounding, bonding, and entry projects

These projects help organize the station. Have code-required work checked by a qualified person.

Ground system

Single-point ground panel

A copper or aluminum bonding panel that becomes the common entry point for station grounds and protectors.

Planning focusCopper plate/bar, bonding strap, bulkhead connectors

Mount near the cable entry point.
Bond protectors and equipment grounds to the panel.
Bond the panel to the building grounding electrode system as required.

Safety note: grounding and lightning work must follow local electrical code and good bonding practice.

Cable management

Coax entry panel

A clean wall/window entry panel for coax, control cables, and bulkhead lightning protectors.

Planning focusWeatherproof panel, bulkhead connectors, drip loops

Keep outdoor drip loops below entry.
Mount protectors at the entry side.
Label each line and radio destination.

Safety note: grounding and lightning work must follow local electrical code and good bonding practice.

Ground rods

Ground rod layout explanation

A planning guide for rods, bonding conductors, and keeping grounds connected rather than isolated.

Planning focusGround rods, clamps, bonding conductor

Avoid separate unbonded ground systems.
Use listed clamps and suitable wire/strap.
Keep conductors short and direct where practical.

Safety note: grounding and lightning work must follow local electrical code and good bonding practice.

Protection

Lightning arrestor mounting guide

A layout for mounting coax protectors on the outside or entry-panel ground plate.

Planning focusCoax protectors, bulkhead plate, weather boots

Mount protectors at the entry panel.
Bond each protector to the panel.
Weatherproof outdoor connectors.

Safety note: grounding and lightning work must follow local electrical code and good bonding practice.

Inside bonding

Shack bonding strap guide

A station bus concept for bonding radios, tuners, amplifiers, and power supplies together.

Planning focusCopper strap or braid, lugs, hardware

Create a short common station bond bus.
Connect equipment chassis to the bus.
Avoid long skinny ground loops where possible.

Safety note: grounding and lightning work must follow local electrical code and good bonding practice.

RF control

Ferrite choke placement guide

Where to place ferrites for feedline, USB, audio, mic, display, and DC cables.

Planning focusMix 31/43 ferrites, cable labels

Start with feedline common-mode choke.
Add ferrites at equipment ends of noisy cables.
Use receive noise and RF feedback as your guide.

Safety note: grounding and lightning work must follow local electrical code and good bonding practice.

Operations

Before-storm disconnect plan

A repeatable shutdown plan for coax, control cables, power, chargers, and outdoor equipment.

Planning focusLabels, storage hooks, checklist, caps

Label every cable before disconnecting.
Move disconnected coax away from radios.
Unplug power supplies and chargers when appropriate.

Safety note: grounding and lightning work must follow local electrical code and good bonding practice.