[TenTec] Earth those feeders

[Jerry Haigwood]

Stuart,
    This same technique is used in very sandy soils.  I have a good friend
in Florida who lives on a sand hill.  The electrician didn't even try to
drive a ground rod since it would probably disappear on the first good hit
from the sledge hammer.  They just buried a wire down about 18 inches all
around the house and all utilities which require a ground, uses it.  It is
the only way to get a reasonable ground in sandy soil.
Jerry W5JH


-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]
On Behalf Of Stuart Rohre
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 8:23 PM
To: tentec at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Earth those feeders

If you can get a wire up against the house, but in the dirt just under 
the surface, you can create a halo ground bonding of all the ground rods 
around a house.  Our local utility developed a computer program that 
modeled the losses and in our rocky soil, 10 gauge wire was adequate for 
a sub station, so that should work for a house.  It bonds as it passes 
each ground rod, like main electrical service, telephone entry, cable 
TV, etc.

The size of conductor can vary depending on your total halo length 
circling the house.  And on your local ground character as to earth 
resistance, moisture content, etc.

If you have the area of a 1500 sq. ft. house circuled with no. 10 
bonding all the earth rods, you may not need incremental rods, and the 
soil under you may prevent many rods being driven.  In our local cases 
rock is often 18 inches below surface!

-Stuart Rohre
K5KVH
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