Author Topic: Chassis Grounding Question on Newly Resurrected 55 YO Heathkit GR62 Shortwave Re  (Read 1032 times)

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Offline electromotivetrainsTopic starter

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Hello all:  I have just resurrected my 55 year old Heathkit GR62 shortwave receiver that I built in about 1971 .

This receiver was designed in the mid 1960's.  My question is the grounding setup for this receiver.  Please see the attached image that is from the Heathkit assembly manual.

The line cord is currently a 2 prong (no ground) setup.  The assembly instructions require a separate ground wire from the grounding lug on the back of the receiver chassis to a new independent 6-8 ft. grounding rod. 
Quote from the assembly manual: "The GRD terminal on the rear of the receiver should be grounded to a water pipe or a 6-8 ft. long grounding rod driven into the earth".

My question is this: 

1). Should I replace the existing 2 prong line cord with a 3 prong (grounding one).  The ground wire I would connect to the receiver chassis.  This would provide the grounding (to earth) of the receiver chassis via my main circuit breaker panel grounding rods.

OR

2).  Stay with the 2 prong line cord and use the independent grounding rod setup as shown in the attached image and described in the Heathkit assembly instructions.

OR

3). Do both

My initial thought was to use the independent grounding rod setup to maybe reduce any noise interference/hum that may be on my homes electrical system that would make it back into the receiver.  But I really have no idea.

Thoughts please.....Thank-you  (11/14/2024 11am EST New York)
electromotivetrains
 

Offline electromotivetrainsTopic starter

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Sorry. Here is the attachment..
electromotivetrains
 

Offline TimFox

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Does this receiver use a transformer in the internal power supply, or do the rectifier and heaters run directly from the mains input?
 

Offline Wallace Gasiewicz

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On the Heathkit 64, the B+ is from the transformer and voltage doubler. Two diodes are used.  The 12 Volt filament volts are from a transformer secondary winding also.   
The B voltage is referenced to chassis ground. However one end of the  12 Volt heater voltage is also grounded to chassis.   
See the last page of this:       

https://ia801302.us.archive.org/25/items/Heathkit_GR-64_Shortwave_Receiver/Heathkit_GR-64_Shortwave_Receiver_text.pdf


 

Offline TimFox

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With a proper transformer power supply, I would recommend changing to a 3-prong line cord.
The "ground" on the antenna connection is presumably to a primary on the RF input circuit, and should be connected to a proper ground, such as the ground stake.
Is that connection also connected internally to the chassis?
Edit:  it took a while to download the manual, but both the RF primaries and the power supply are connected to the chassis.
« Last Edit: November 14, 2024, 06:06:59 pm by TimFox »
 

Offline Wallace Gasiewicz

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I think he can use a three pin power cord without a problem but an additional direct ground is usually helpful for reception.
 


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