>three sets of two guys
Did you mean two sets of three guys?
Yes, lightning can easily flash over insulators. And yes, not grounding the
guy anchors put a huge potential across the concrete.
But, take heart as there are probably many other hams out there with less
than safe tower installations. I admit I am one who suffered a similar
malady in my younger years. I constructed a 70 foot tower (my own design)
and held it up with guys tied to existing trees. When a storm passed
through the trees bent over and let the wires loose resulting in a twisted,
bent over mess that landed on the garage with the antenna barely missing the
car parked in the driveway.
Keith NM5G
-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Bill Shell
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 7:36 PM
To: Tower Talk List
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Conductive Concrete and Grounding
In 1966, I lost a tower to a lightning strike. The tower was a 50ft Rohn 25
with three sets of two guys. The tower was grounded an the base with ground
rods and heavy guage wire going up about 3-4 ft where it attached to the
tower legs. Unfortunately, the strike went down one of the guys, over or
through the heavy-duty egg insulators to the guy anchor where it cracked the
cement open. The tower, having lost the anchor point for one set of guys,
just tipped over into my neighbors yard.
I didn't have any grounds on the guy anchor points. I had thought there was
no need, since the guys were broken at several points with egg insulators.
I was wrong. Lightning is too unpredictable to follow rules.
73, Bill
N6WS
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
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_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather
Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
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http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
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