TTers:
Here's the grounding conundrum that faces me at this idyllic (if you
consider the views and house) or lousy (if you consider antenna options)
California QTH:
The house is built on a 35-55 degree slope, on a rock material called
'greywacke'. Ground rods will penetrate 4-6 inches (yes, inches!) before
meeting total resistance. The longest radial run I could get would be
about 20 feet. The shack is on second floor. Fortunately, this is a low
lightning area, but this fall's big storms have convinced me easily that
'low lightning' does not equal 'no lightning'
So, I thought that I could consult the awesome experience of TT
reflectorites to answer the following:
- how do I best achieve a ground connection? An 8 foot drill looks a tough
way to get a ground rod inserted - and how would the rod contact what I
assume is poor conductivity rock? Trying to put fill down the hole
alongside an 8 foot rod looks comparable with cutting the grass of a
football field with nail scissors. So how would an array of radials work
for station grounding? I have tons of experience with radials for
verticals on excellent conductivity land in UK, but none for shack
grounding purposes on low conductivity.
- if I can get a decent ground, will big (2 inch? 4 inch?) copper strap
give me a low enough impedance connection to the second floor? What about
reactance/resonances of the strap? (Without wishing to open the Artificial
Ground thread again, none of the commercial units operate at 1500W anyhow).
Will the electric company's ground, plus a set of 1/4 wave counterpoises
at the shack end be adequate?
All suggestions (serious, non-flaming variety) gratefully received...
Dave
WJ6O G3WGN
ex M6T, G5M
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