Antenna grounding

Magnet Mounted antenna's don't need a ground strap...

 

NO. And don't run a ground strap from your mirror all the way to your frame either. If you need to ground, bond actually, you want to use short straps 18" or less. Mirror arm to door; door to body; body to frame. Braided straps are best, coax works pretty good. Just solder the center conductor to the braid where you terminate it. Make sure you get good connectivity, sand to bare metal at each point of contact, then paint it to protect from rust after you're done.

 

Thanks Mike. I do know not to run one long ground strap. I've already got one from the bracket to the door and sooebto body just need that last short connection from body to frame.

 

Actually there is metal flake or somethin like that in almost all paints so you dont "have to" sand down to metal..Still can if ya wanna but,just sayin

 

Metal flake was in the paint vehicle - the liquid that is used to spray the paint on the object and has some condictivity. Once it is dry, there is no conductivity.

If you want to have a good ground, then you sand all the coating off the metal for it to work.

 

So if I understand correctly, sand down a small section on the frame to bare meatal then just solder the wire right to the bare spot?
Can I then paint over it for protection?

 

Yes you can paint over it once installed...Mater-a-fact you need to to keep it from rusting... As for soldering, I just use a self tapping screw to attach the ground braid...Put some solder on the end of the ground braid, then run a self tapping screw through the solder to the body or frame...The solder will keep the braid from coming unraveled when you run the screw into it...or you can crimp a eye-connector to each end of the braid for the screw.

 

The solder may act like an insulator if you coat the braid with it completely. You need to just use enough to put on the very end to 'seal' it.

Yes Paint it, if you can paint it with some epoxy paint so it doesn't flake off. Prep it first to make use there is no oil or solder residue on the connection or area.