Earthing the Observatory

[I.C.D]

Hi All ,
Should you earth your observatory .My observatory is 12 volt battery /solar panels and one 12v/240v inverter to run a USB hub and light box and anything else that may requires 240 volts

Ian :thumbsup:

[Wavytone]

Wouldn't hurt to call an electrician, frankly, if you have 240VAC in the obs. A couple of hundred $ well spent, I suggest.

[glend]

I ran an earth for my pier/mount, it's pretty easy to do. You can get by with a piece of reo bar driven into the ground, and a wire attached to it with a hose clamp, you can get it all from Bunnings for $10.

Btw, most sizable inverters do have a chassis earth point. My permanently mounted inverter in my big shed is earthed.

[I.C.D]

Hi Glen,
When into my shed found some earth wire a cooper pipe some clamps ,I have earth the pier and put hand earth pad as well for any static electricity build up I mite have .
Ian :thanx:

[Lee]

I have a grounded sheet of aluminium checker plate in the obs now, I did this as static build up was causing problems with imaging electronics...

[rogerg]

Yes you should earth it. If nothing else to help prevent damage from lightning strikes and associated static charge buildup if you're in a risk area.

My concrete has copper+aluminium 25mm diameter lightning rods in it (bonded to the reinforcing), exposed with terminals on the outside. Those terminals are then earthed to copper in the ground. Then the steel structure is earthed also (less of an issue as it's embedded in the concrete).

Roger.