[TowerTalk] How deep to bury ground radials?

[Bob Wanderer]

This topic was recently discussed, so you may want to check
the archives. The two main issues of concern, I believe, 
are frost heaves and frozen ground doesn't absorb surge current.
I honestly have no information on how problematic these might
be in reality. My belief is that if you have enough ground rods,
and they're going into unfrozen and conductive ground, then 
that lower layer will take care of the surge energy.

I had my lightning ground radial system only several inches
deep in Colorado, where I know for a fact that I wasn't below
the point where the ground freezes in the winter and it did okay.
Lightning is a rare occurrance in winter and I guess the real issue
is how quickly the ground thaws with the coming of spring versus
the onset of thunderstorms.

73,
Bob AA0CY

----------
From:  Scott Neader KA9FOX[SMTP:neader@QTH.com]
Sent:  Monday, July 06, 1998 11:37 PM
To:  Bob Wanderer
Subject:  RE: [TowerTalk] How deep to bury ground radials?

Thanks Bob...

I understand the concept of burying below frozen ground (at least a couple
feet here in Wisconsin), but it ain't gonna happen with this installation.
My biggest question is... what are the downsides to burying only 6 inches
underground, besides the frozen ground issue.  Thoughts?

- Scott

At 06:54 PM 7/6/98 -0700, you wrote:
>
>Actually I think that info's in there somewhere!
>
>PolyPhaser suggests 12~18 inches, but you defintiely
>want to below the point where the ground freezes in winter.
>If you use a conductivity enhancer, you won't have to go
>that deep, but then you'll have to provide a wider trench!
>As Roseanne Rosanadana said, "It's always somethin'."
>
>73,
>Bob AA0CY
>ex PolyPhaser Sr Appl Engr
>
>----------
>From:  Scott Neader KA9FOX[SMTP:neader@QTH.com]
>Sent:  Sunday, July 05, 1998 6:07 PM
>To:  towertalk@contesting.com
>Subject:  [TowerTalk] How deep to bury ground radials?
>
>
>OK folks, one more grounding question...
>
>I've started burying the radials and found that it is MUCH easier to only
>go down about 6 inches.  What are the pitfalls with only going down that far?
>
>I've checked out the PolyPhaser books and about all I see are "below ground
>level" -- I don't see that they suggest a depth for the radials at all.
>
>Thoughts?  Thanks, as always, for the assistance!
>
>73 - Scott KA9FOX
>---------------------------------------------------------------
>INTERNET SOLUTIONS - Affordable web page design and storage
>Scott Neader (608)788-1234 / FAX (608)787-0100 / KA9FOX@QTH.com
>3323 South 29th Street, La Crosse, WI  54601   / ICQ 12151451
>Free Ham Radio Classified Ads:    http://www.QTH.com
>KA9FOX Contesting and DXing Site: http://www.QTH.com/KA9FOX
>
>--
>FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
>Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
>Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
>Problems:                 owner-towertalk@contesting.com
>Search:                   http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm
>
>
>
>
>--
>FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
>Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
>Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
>Problems:                 owner-towertalk@contesting.com
>Search:                   http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm
>
>
---------------------------------------------------------------
INTERNET SOLUTIONS - Affordable web page design and storage
Scott Neader (608)788-1234 / FAX (608)787-0100 / KA9FOX@QTH.com
3323 South 29th Street, La Crosse, WI  54601   / ICQ 12151451
Free Ham Radio Classified Ads:    http://www.QTH.com
KA9FOX Contesting and DXing Site: http://www.QTH.com/KA9FOX



--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-towertalk@contesting.com
Search:                   http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm