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Re: [TowerTalk] Copper Pipe Ground Rods - Driving them in - How ?

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Copper Pipe Ground Rods - Driving them in - How ?
From: Jim Lux <jimlux@earthlink.net>
Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 06:16:57 -0700
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
On 5/25/11 5:28 AM, Dan Bookwalter wrote:
> Ok , I have most of my ground system planned out , my plan is to use copper 
> pipe
> (type "L") and silver solder flashing to them from the tower etc...  my issue 
> is
> how in the world do you guys drive copper pipe into the ground , I have access
> to a 1/2" hammer drill , but , the pipe is too large for that , I am going to
> check into a ground rod bit for it , but , I am still not so sure if that will
> work.
>

Any particular reason why you're using pipe rather than rods?  The rods 
are copper plated steel and usually much cheaper, as well as being 
easier to drive.

As far as flashing goes, why not use copper wire?  Inductance is roughly 
the same, and the increased AC resistance from skin effect is small 
compared to the inductive voltage drop.  Then you can use standard 
clamps/exothermic welding, etc.

Unless you happen to have flashing, then, by all means, use it.


(Flashing is good for RF grounds where you want to minimize power 
losses, but in a lightning protection situation, the power dissipation 
in the conductor isn't a huge deal)
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