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[TowerTalk] Lightning protection grounding

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Subject: [TowerTalk] Lightning protection grounding
From: Charles.Constantine@lmco.com (Chuck Constantine)
Date: Mon, 12 Apr 1999 09:16:23 -0700
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If you are loading your tower as an antenna then you might want to think
about dropping a wire or braid to connect the sections of the tower
together for better efficiency by reducing the resistive losses.  But
for static build-up for lightning protection, dont think its going to
buy you anything.  The tower is conductive via the cables and pulleys
and a few Ohms of resistance isn't going to change things.  Think about
the resistance of the air the lightning has propagated through to reach
your tower, a couple of Ohms resistance in the last 150 feet or so aint
going to make a difference!  You only need a few Mega-Ohms of resistance
to bleed off static discharge to ground.  If  lightning attaches to your
tower its going to arc across all the joints of the tower section on its
way to ground.  You need to focus on the ground rod(s) and short large
diameter (low inductance) groundwire(s) from the tower to the ground
rod(s) so the high, instantaneous current flow has a place to go during
a discharge and doesn't decide to blow the concrete base apart looking
for a path!

73 Chuck Constantine KR6C

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<title>Tower Talk Reflector: [TowerTalk] Lightning protection grounding</title>
<h1>[TowerTalk] Lightning protection grounding</h1>
David Leikis (<i>dlleikis@deseretonline.com</i>)<br>
<i>Sun, 11 Apr 1999 22:39:44 -0600</i>
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Hello,

I have seen many recent postings concerning grounding methods and saw
one that stated to run a ground conductor up the mast to the final
section (and the others as well) to prevent any high resistance points
along the way through the joints.

My question is this:  I am erecting a self-supporting crankup and am
concerned about the sliding joints of the installation.  It seems as
though these would definitely be high resistance and would need this
more than any other.  What is a recommended method from those that may
have done this before?  We can have some pretty severe storms here and I
am positive (or negative)  that lightning charge dissipation should be
'high' on my list.

Dave KG7EW


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