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[TowerTalk] grounding quesitons: Ufer, strap, exothermic welds

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Subject: [TowerTalk] grounding quesitons: Ufer, strap, exothermic welds
From: Mat Eshpeter <kk1c@live.com>
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2011 10:24:14 -0400
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
I am about to pour concrete for the base of my HDX589 tower. I am going to go 
with a Ufer ground as well as the Polyphaser recommended eight 75' radials with 
multiple ground rods (8' rods every 16'). Location is on top of a 1600' ridge 
in WV and lightning is a very real concern. My QRZ web page gives a feel for 
the location.
 
To build the Ufer ground, I am thinking about connecting a single bare 2/0 
stranded copper wire to the rebar. Questions:
1) is one enough?
2) how do I properly connect the copper to the rebar? Is exothermic weld the 
only way? Any problem with dissimilar metals?
3) how should the copper exit the base slab - above grade or below grade?
 
Also, seems that copper strap is the preferred ground material for connecting 
rods together. Will 0.032" thick strap have significantly better longevity than 
0.022" strap? I am refering to the strap sold by Georgia Copper.  Copper is 
expensive and I don't want to invest in copper that won't add any value to my 
installation. 
 
Where can I find exothermic weld products to connect copper strap to 5/8" 
copper clad ground rods? I am exhausted reading Harger, Erico, Terraweld info, 
and can only find wire-to-ground rod products, no strap-to-rod products. 
 
73
Mat
KK1C
 

 
                                          
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