[TowerTalk] ground rods for towers

[Paul McInnish]

Carl... the 3/0 is not as good as copper strapping BUT STILL better than doing nothing. But... if you can get some gutter flashing, works great (comes in rolls & different widths... go to local home supply) or... I used 1" diameter copper tubing, buried! Did not solder the joints... brazed them! Or silver solder would also work great!

Paul - K4BET



At Tue, 1 Aug 2000 08:43:16 -0300, you wrote:
>
>
>I obtained a 150 ft, left-over, end of 3/0 TWU cable from an electrical
>supply house. I was going to strip it of insulation and use it for my
>relocated tower and also for equipment grounding purposes, but with all the
>talk about copper strapping I am getting worried. Did I buy the wrong stuff?
>It cost a mint and can't be returned. I don't believe wide copper straps are
>available here in Sussex, N. B.
>
>73,  Carl  VE9OV
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
>[mailto:owner-towertalk@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Bob Wanderer
>Sent: Monday, July 31, 2000 9:50 PM
>To: TOWER REFLECTOR; Tom Hix W4TH
>Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] ground rods for towers
>
>
>
>Contact PolyPhaser or AES for their tutorial "The 'Grounds'
>for Lightning and EMP Protection."
>
>A good lightning ground (which also constitutes a good RF
>ground, although the converse is false) would consist of
>several 50-foot radials eminating from each tower leg.  More
>shorter runs are better than fewer longer runs.  There
>should be a ground rod (preferably at least an 8-footer) at
>the beginning and the end of each radial (the beginning rod
>can be common to all radials from that tower leg).
>Additional rods per radial should be spaced approximately
>1-1/2 to 2 times the rod length (e.g. for 8-footers that
>would be 12~16 feet).  Use wide copper strap for the radials
>and to connect the radials to the tower.  #6 is for power
>(60 Hz) use only; it is useless for a lightning ground.
>
>At the shack, create a single point ground tying in the
>equipment grounds, lightning (tower) ground, (coaxial cable
>and ac power) surge protector groundfs, power company (and
>other utlilities') grounds, etc.
>
>Again, the PolyPhaser book (and products) are well worth the
>price.
>
>73
>Bob AA0CY/3
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
>[mailto:owner-towertalk@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Tom Hix
>W4TH
>Sent: Monday, July 31, 2000 3:08 AM
>To: towertalk@contesting.com
>Subject: [TowerTalk] ground rods for towers
>
>
>
>How many ground rods should be used on a tower of 75 feet?
>This tower is
>used only for beams and dipole support. I have a friend who
>says one is
>enough, I have others who say one on each leg, what say ye
>me hearties?
>Also anyone who has an antenna modeling program and wouldnt
>mind helping
>out a non computer owner, please contact me. I have a wire
>antenna I
>want to try out and I am interested in seeing what the
>computer has to
>say about it.
>thanks and 73
>Tom
>
>===================================
>Be sure to visit my web sites.
>
>Amateur radio amp tubes.
>http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/ClassifiedsCt/tomstubes/ind
>ex.html
>
>Ham Radio Homepage.
>http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Woods/6222/
>
>
>
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