■ Earthing (Lightning protection)

Earthing

Earthing of radio equipment should be carried out in accordance with appropriate guidelines
for Earthing in Maritime Installations required in international standards.
Great care should be taken in order to fulfil the following rules:
1. Each unit of radio equipment should have a separated earth connection.
2. MF/HF antenna tuners should be earthed with either a copper bar or copper band.
3. The earthing bar or strap should be as short as possible, should not be more than
    one metre in length, and should be at least 60 mm in width.
4. For earthing straps up to 5 metres in length the width should be at least 100 mm
    (May be relevant on board vessels made of wood or synthetic materials).
5. It should be noted that a long earthing strap or bar will act as an antenna and
    radiate energy.
6. Copper bars and straps should be brazed to the steel bulkhead in order to
    eliminate corrosion and vibration and make a good earth connection.
7. Great care should be taken when earthing radio equipment on ships with
    aluminium superstructures in order to avoid galvanic corrosion. An approved and
    acceptable method of earthing should be used on such ships.

A properly installed lightning protection system consists of copper plate or earth cable
that terminate a lightning strikes, and then carry the current safely to the sea through the body of ship