---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Erico chemical ground electrode
From: "John E. Cleeve" <g3jvc@jcleeve.idps.co.uk>
Date: Mon, March 4, 2013 9:06 pm
To: "Patrick Greenlee" <patrick_g@windstream.net>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello Patrick,
<As I recall there are some Army tech manuals that cover grounding systems
for radio installations and if memory serves some of the schemes involved
chemical enhancement of soil conductivity>
I have found the US military manual on grounding you mentioned, a mine of
information. Thank you.
Ref: MIL-HNBK-419A
73, John. G3JVC/GM3JVC.
> Aside from "Kitty Litter", oil absorbent for sweeping mechanic's floors
> clean, and other domestic uses, sodium bentonite is the major ingredient
> in
> oil well "mud." It is used also as a sealant for leaking ponds. It
> swells
> when wetted and shrinks when dried. I have purchased and spread tons of
> the
> stuff. I have read where it was recommended for use in holes in the
> ground
> in conjunction with grounding applications but have a concern regarding
> its
> shrinkage when drying out. If it is allowed to dry it will shrink and
> pull
> away leaving a gap or poor connection of the ground rod to the surrounding
> soil. If you use it, don't let it dry out.
>
> In my dim past (and that isn't necessarily very long ago ;) ;) ) I read
> about grounding systems using sulfates (I don't recall which but it wasn't
> copper sulfate CuSO4) inside perforated copper pipes. Water was added via
> the unburied top of the pipe and the chemical was replenished as it
> dissolved and treated the surrounding soil.
>
> As I recall there are some Army tech manuals that cover grounding systems
> for radio installations and if memory serves some of the schemes involved
> chemical enhancement of soil conductivity.
>
> Patrick AF5CK
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: K1TTT
> Sent: Sunday, March 03, 2013 6:00 PM
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Erico chemical ground electrode
>
> Rock salt would tend to corrode the copper pipe, I believe they usually
> use
> copper sulfate or something similar so the electrode isn't destroyed.
> The
> bentonite by itself acts to help increase the conductivity around the rod.
>
> David Robbins K1TTT
> e-mail: mailto:k1ttt@arrl.net
> web: http://wiki.k1ttt.net
> AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://k1ttt.net
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John E. Cleeve [mailto:g3jvc@jcleeve.idps.co.uk]
> Sent: Sunday, March 03, 2013 23:29
> To: K1TTT
> Cc: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Erico chemical ground electrode
>
> Hello David,
>
> Thank you for your response. Looking for a source on "Bentonite" it
> appears
> that there are several types of "clay deposit" materials covered by the
> name
> Bentonite, or Fullers Earth as it can be known over here, and it is used
> for
> a suprising number of purposes.
>
> From the Erico diagram, it is claimed that the conductivity is improved by
> what appear to be "roots" of conductivity "growing" from the holes in the
> base of the electrode, out via the Bentonite layer at the base of the
> electrode, into the surrounding ground, and there is no mention of
> replenishing the "electrolyte salt" after a specified period.
>
> I would like to try the experiment, using a length of copper central
> heating
> tube. I have a professional ground resistance measuring test set, which I
> do
> know how to use, but its the chemistry that will defeat me.
>
> From what I have read, the Bentonite could be used a "seal" to prevent the
> "GEM" material from going further. I assume that the choice of
> "electrolytic
> salts" and the recipe for the "GEM" material would be a closely guarded
> commercial secret. But could it be that they are common, and relatively
> cheap materials, such as rock salt and copper sulphate, but they have been
> given a "new" name for commercial reasons.
>
>
>
> Sincerely, John. G3JVC/GM3JVC.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>> 'GEM' could just mean Ground Enhancement Material... which could just
>> be bentonite or some mix of other conductive material. Usually
>> chemical grounds like that require periodic replacement of the salts
>> and would work best in damp areas or could use periodic watering. The
>> idea is to simply increase the conductivity in the area around the rod
>> by adding some kind of salt ions to the soil.
>>
>> David Robbins K1TTT
>> e-mail: mailto:k1ttt@arrl.net
>> web: http://wiki.k1ttt.net
>> AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://k1ttt.net
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: John E. Cleeve [mailto:g3jvc@jcleeve.idps.co.uk]
>> Sent: Sunday, March 03, 2013 22:18
>> To: Towertalk@contesting.com
>> Subject: [TowerTalk] Erico chemical ground electrode
>>
>> Gentlemen,
>>
>> Has anyone had experience of using the Erico chemical ground electrode?
>> The Erico claim is that one chemical ground electrode can be as
>> effective as multiple ordinary ground rods.
>>
>> I am not sure if the Erico product is available in the UK, but from
>> the available Erico literature, it would appear to be a copper tube,
>> which has been packed with "electrolyte salts", the base of the tube
>> has a number of holes drilled around the base. The method is to drill
>> a hole in the ground, larger in diameter than the electrode, put a
>> layer of Bentonite/Fullers earth in the bottom of the hole, lower the
>> electrode to the Bentonite, to a depth that covers the holes in the
>> tube, and then pack the vacant space around the Erico electrode, up to
>> the ground surface, with Erico "Gem"
>> material, whatever that might be. The electrodes come with cables
>> already welded for connection.
>>
>> I am not a chemist, but I am intrigued, perhaps if we have a chemist
>> among the group, who could provide a simple explanation of how this
>> chemical electrode system might work, it would be appreciated.
>>
>>
>>
>> Sincerely, John. G3JVC/GM3JVC.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
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