Question
What is a possible effect of a resonant ground connection?
Answer Options
- A) Overheating of ground straps
- B) Corrosion of the ground rod
- C) High RF voltages on the enclosures of station equipment
- D) A ground loop
Correct Answer: C
Explanation
A ground connection is ‘resonant’ when its physical length (including the wire and the ground rod) is equivalent to an odd multiple of a quarter wavelength at the operating frequency. When this occurs, the connection acts like a high-impedance, quarter-wave transmission line stub.
Instead of providing a low-impedance path to ground, this resonance causes the RF current attempting to flow to ground to meet a very high impedance. This results in a buildup of high RF voltage, leading to the risk of high RF voltages on the enclosures of station equipment and RF burns when the equipment is touched.
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