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Re: [TowerTalk] Grounding HDX-555

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Grounding HDX-555
From: Jim Lux <jimlux@earthlink.net>
Date: Sun, 05 May 2013 18:04:17 -0700
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
On 5/5/13 4:27 PM, Bryan Swadener wrote:
I was advised by an electrician that 4 AWG was
required in my area (Snohomish County, WA) to
bond ground systems together.

Interesting..

I googled the local codes out of curiosity.. you have a local code that requires a CEGR (Ufer) and inspection prior to pouring the concrete. I couldn't find the AWG4 requirement, but I didn't look very hard. There were some rules that seem to say "ground bonding conductor must be equal to service conductor in size".. maybe that's where it comes from, but AWG 4 seems small for a service conductor, but who knows.. maybe it's local practice..


The building inspector didn't say anything about it.
I think he was amazed that a ham would try to
install a tower by the book.

I'll bet he was.


When I pulled the permit, they couldn't recall
the last time a ham asked for one (there are
some 2K hams in my county).

vy 73,
Bryan WA7PRC

Date: Sun, 05 May 2013 14:12:01 -0700
From: Jim Lux
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Grounding HDX-555

NEC doesn't require 4 AWG, in general, but
your local electrician might have gone for
4, based on local knowledge.  Bear in mind
that the local "Authority Having Jurisdiction"
(AHJ) is the final arbiter, which is why
it's worth having local input.  You NEVER
want to get into a "but the code says X"
discussion with the local inspector. You
*will* lose.

On 5/5/13 12:35 PM, Bryan WA7PRC wrote:
Hi Brad,

Refer to the instructions from the PE you hired, and do
that. For my TX472, my PE (Hank KR7X) specified one
ground rod/electrode per tower leg, connected using
2/0 wire or equivalent, with all rods/electrodes
interconnected using 2/0 wire.  I did exactly
that: http://www.tinyurl.com/wa7prc-tower
A UFER ground was suggested but I didn't do that
because it wasn't in the plans from the PE.

Per NEC & NFPA, all grounds are tied into the
electrical service ground using 4 AWG, according
to instructions from a licensed electrician.

vy 73,
Bryan WA7PRC
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