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Re: [TowerTalk] Grounding

To: <TowerTalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Grounding
From: "John Wagner" <jwagner@dxengineering.com>
Reply-to: jwagner@dxengineering.com
Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2006 16:16:04 -0400
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
> Replace that braid a soon as possible.  Your next tower 
> strike will be less likely to cause damage.
> 
> I am also using braid on my tower and have a similar "to-do" 
> list backlog.
> I have obtained a roll of "210" as the electrical supply 
> company termed it, plus SS tower leg clamps from DX 
> Engineering for ground wire connection, so no more excuses.  
> The 210 turns out to mean 2 GA solid tinned wire.  Their 
> biggest customer for this product is the local power company. 
>  A roll has 500 feet and is VERY heavy, both in weight and price.
> 
> 73, Keith NM5G
> 

> In recent TT conversations it was pointed out that one should 
> NOT use braided line for grounding.  Well Just @#(*$% !  I 
> thought I was doing a good thing when I used the only length 
> of 1 inch wide braid to connect the
> longest(deepest) ground rod to the tower with braid.  This is 
> also the connection that has all the 'lightning arrestor' 
> mounted to it. 
> 
>  
> 
> My other ground rod connections are made with 1/2 inch copper tubing. 
> 
> I drilled and tapped the top of the ground rods and flattened 
> the tubing and connected the tubing to the rods with 
> Stainless bolts and conductive grease.
> 
> 
>  
> 
> My question is.  Should I replace the braid with copper 
> tubing?  It is doable but would add another project to a long list.  
> 
>  
> 
> BTW - one could use metal chimney sweep brushes instead of 
> the expensive porcupines - if one wanted to install a porcupine. 
> 
>  
> 
> JIM 
> 
> KV4FE 
> 
> I'm not going to tell you where I live because I don't want 
> anyone else to come here and mess up the place - and raise 
> taxes - So there! 
> 
>  
> 
> Joan & Jim 
> 
> On The River 
> 

Where possible, use copper strap. It offers lower inductance than wire and
due to skin effect is much more likley to
Handle the current associated with strikes.

Copper has gone up like the shuttle of late...

73, John


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