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Re: [TowerTalk] Antenna/Tower Grounding (Lightning Protection)

To: "Richard W. Solomon" <w1ksz@earthlink.net>,<towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Antenna/Tower Grounding (Lightning Protection)
From: ersmar@comcast.net
Date: Thu, 04 Jan 2007 04:52:46 +0000
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Dick:

     Below are some nuggets of wisdom I've gathered from reading the postings 
on this reflector over the years.

1.     You cannot protect the tower, antennas and rigs from a direct lightning 
strike.   You can only attempt to minimize the damage if that happens.

2.    Your tower ought to have at least one ground wire, minimum of #8 gauge 
wire, to one ground rod within two feet of each tower leg.  The latest version 
of the National Electrical Code mandates two ground rods and two wires at each 
leg.

3.    You ought to ground each coax cable shield to the tower at the top and at 
the bottom of the tower.  

4.     You ought to install lightning suppressors on all wires and cables 
coming into your shack.  Polyphaser makes these as do ICE and Delta.  <All 
cables> includes the coax runs, your control lines to your rotator and antenna 
switch(es), and any DC or AC supply lines going up the tower.  

5.      You ought to install these suppressors immediately outside your shack 
entrance onto a single-point ground (SPG) panel.  This panel ought to be 
connected to another ground rod via another #8 minimum ground wire.  The ground 
connections from all the electrical systems within your house (electrical 
supply panel, cable TV, telephone, etc.) should also be connected to this SPG 
panel.  

6.     You ought to search the TowerTalk archives for details on how to do all 
of these things.  

7.     When you have finished reading all you can stand, come back to this 
reflector again and ask some more questions.  We're only too glad to help.

     What did I miss mentioning, gents?

73 de
Gene Smar  AD3F


 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Richard W. Solomon" <w1ksz@earthlink.net>
> Looking for advice on what to use to protect the Tower, Antennas and
> Rigs from lightning strikes. I guess I need Tower Ground(s) and some
> kind of Coax grounding that can survive.
> I looked at the Polyphaser site, but unless you know the Model Number,
> it could be a long night.
> 
> What would you suggest ?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> 73, Dick, W1KSZ 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
> 
> 
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