Which of the following is good practice when installing ground wires on a tower for lightning protection?
The correct answer is C: Ensure that connections are short and direct. Good practice when installing ground wires on a tower for lightning protection is to ensure that connections are short and direct. Short, direct ground connections have lower resistance and inductance, providing better lightning protection. Long, indirect paths increase resistance and can create voltage differences. For amateur radio operators, proper ground wire installation is essential for effective lightning protection. Understanding this helps create a proper ground system.
Exam Tip
Tower ground wires = short and direct connections. Think 'S'hort and 'D'irect = 'S'afe and 'D'ependable. Minimizes resistance and inductance for better lightning protection. No drip loops, no right angles.
Memory Aid
"Tower ground wires = short and direct. Think 'S'hort and 'D'irect = 'S'afe and 'D'ependable. Minimizes resistance for effective lightning protection. Essential for tower safety."
Real-World Application
You install ground wires from your tower to ground rods. You make the connections as short and direct as possible - straight runs with minimal bends. This creates low-resistance paths that effectively carry lightning energy to ground. Long, indirect paths with many bends would have higher resistance and be less effective.
Key Concepts
Why Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: Incorrect. Drip loops prevent water from running into connections, but they're not for ground wires - they're for feed lines. Ground wires should be direct, not have loops.
Option B: Incorrect. Right-angle bends increase inductance and resistance, which is bad for lightning protection. Ground wires should be as straight as possible.
Option D: Incorrect. Since A and B are not good practices, 'all of the above' cannot be correct. Only short, direct connections are proper.
题目解析
The correct answer is C: Ensure that connections are short and direct. Good practice when installing ground wires on a tower for lightning protection is to ensure that connections are short and direct. Short, direct ground connections have lower resistance and inductance, providing better lightning protection. Long, indirect paths increase resistance and can create voltage differences. For amateur radio operators, proper ground wire installation is essential for effective lightning protection. Understanding this helps create a proper ground system.
考试技巧
Tower ground wires = short and direct connections. Think 'S'hort and 'D'irect = 'S'afe and 'D'ependable. Minimizes resistance and inductance for better lightning protection. No drip loops, no right angles.
记忆口诀
Tower ground wires = short and direct. Think 'S'hort and 'D'irect = 'S'afe and 'D'ependable. Minimizes resistance for effective lightning protection. Essential for tower safety.
实际应用示例
You install ground wires from your tower to ground rods. You make the connections as short and direct as possible - straight runs with minimal bends. This creates low-resistance paths that effectively carry lightning energy to ground. Long, indirect paths with many bends would have higher resistance and be less effective.
错误选项分析
Option A: Incorrect. Drip loops prevent water from running into connections, but they're not for ground wires - they're for feed lines. Ground wires should be direct, not have loops. Option B: Incorrect. Right-angle bends increase inductance and resistance, which is bad for lightning protection. Ground wires should be as straight as possible. Option D: Incorrect. Since A and B are not good practices, 'all of the above' cannot be correct. Only short, direct connections are proper.
知识点
Tower grounding, Lightning protection, Ground wire installation, Tower safety
Verified Content
Question from official FCC Technician Class question pool. Explanation reviewed by licensed amateur radio operators.