[TowerTalk] Ground Rods into Concrete Stubs

[R. Otto]

Hello Mike,

I am no expert on the question you raised, but here's two things to
think about:

1)  I've always been told it's not a good idea to allow any metal used
as structure inside concrete to go outside the concrete -- that if you
do the metal will rust inside the concrete.  That's why (I'm told
anyway) that you never let rebar extend outside the concrete.  Doing
what you suggest would allow a rust path to your clevis rods.

2)  I've also been told that it's NOT a good idea to run any kind of
grounding rod or wire directly through the concrete.  If you take a
lightning hit -- the intensity of the charge will be so great that it
will "super-heat" the concrete and cause it to explode.  What happens
is the moisture in the concrete (there is moisture in concrete even
long after it's cured) expands much more rapidly than the cement,
causing the cement to explode.

Again..........this may be all "old wives tales" but I've followed the
concepts in my installations.........

73's from.......

R. Otto
N8NGA@one.net
Cincinnati, Ohio

*********************************************
DXCC 10M         ** DX is !! **       WAS 10M
*********************************************
Thursday, August 17, 2000, 11:10:07 PM, you wrote:


MF> I'm in the process of getting a tower put in, a 48' Rohn HDBX.

MF> Is there any reason that I can't take and attach 3 ground rods to the BOTTOM
MF> of the base stubs (that are buried in the concrete)?  That would put them
MF> another 4-5 feet down.

MF> I am planning on also putting in some more ground rods (8 footers I imagine)
MF> in the immediate vicinity also.

MF> Mike


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