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[TowerTalk] Lightning Ground & RF Ground

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Lightning Ground & RF Ground
From: Phil Camera <kb9cry@comcast.net>
Date: Thu, 04 Jan 2007 17:32:21 -0600
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
A well designed lightning ground will also make an excellent
RF ground for a vertical antenna. If it will not serve as an RF ground then
it is not an adequate lightning ground either.



No not really.  They are two totally different animals and neither will be a 
substitute for the other.

With lightning grounding, we are looking for a low impedance/low resistance 
path to ground
(at multiple spots) and are talking about high current and voltages.

For RF grounding, we are looking for the same but for low currents for our 
antenna to work
against. 

A super counterpoise radial system with lots of radial wires of small diameter 
located near the surface of ground
will not do diddly for dissipating a lightning strike.  And likewise 50 ft per 
tower leg of grounding wire connected to 
ground rods every 2X the rods' heights, will not form a proper RF radial field.

Having both and connecting them together, they always are connected together 
since each connects to the tower,
won't hurt, but they are really two different systems for two different 
purposes.

Phil  KB9CRY

(who's been laying low this time around on the bimonthly lightning discussion!)


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