I operate a Yaesu FT-847, 100 Watt, HF/VHF/SSB/CW transceiver, which is powered by an Astron RS-35M Power Supply, which provides 25 Amp continuous load, and it has a 35 Watt Surge Amp rating.
I have a Yaesu FC-20 automatic tuner installed in-line immediately after the FT-847 transceiver, and there's an MFJ-804 SWR/Watt Meter installed in-line after the Yaesu FC-20 automatic tuner.
The Yaesu FT-847 transceiver, and the lamp on the SWR/Power meter, are connected to an MFJ-1116, Deluxe Multiple Power Outlet, which is powered off of the Astron RS-35M power supply. The automatic tuner is powered off the Yaesu FT-847 transceiver via a factory cable connection. The chassis' of all these components, except for the power strip, are connected to the copper bus bar using #8 insulated 200 Volt solid copper wire, and the Multi-power strip is connected to the bus bar using 3/8" wide tin coated braid, and each of the component leads are bolted in place at the copper bus bar.
The antenna is a Hustler 6-BTV Vertical HF antenna, 6-Band, 80, 40, 30, 20, 15, 10 meters, 1.5 kW, 24 ft., but no radials to date. I plan to add a radial system this Spring. The coax run between the station and the antenna is approximately 75-100 feet long, and the coax is within a buried PVC conduit.
I have some homemade baluns constructed according to the antenna manufacturer's recommendations, one homemade balun/choke on the station end, and one homemade balun/choke at the base of the antenna. These homemade baluns/chokes consist of several wraps of coax wrapped around an approximate 8" long x 6" diameter PVC Pipe. I plan to eventually incorporate a commercially produced balun/choke at the station instead of the homemade baluns/chokes, depending on whether RFI/noise is a problem. So far, RFI/Noise hasn't been a problem, but a commercially produced balun/choke may be even more effective with respect to further mitigating whatever degree of RFI/noise is present.
My system has been installed for over 20 years, and the system has made contacts many thousands of miles away from the Midwest USA, even without radials.
I'm in the process of re-evaluating my station, making updates to it's overall design, and I have several questions:
1. What is the recommended copper bus bar size for my station?
2. What is the recommended wire size, or mesh size if preferable, between my station components and the copper bus bar?
3. What is the recommended wire size from the copper bus bar to a bonded ground rod?
Any additional recommendations are also welcome, and very much appreciated!