[TowerTalk] Conductive Cement

[EUGENE SMAR]

TT:

     As promised, here's the pricing info on the cement (called Earthlink
101):  80 cents per pound.  The manufacturer (Grounding Systems LLC,
440-543-8580) recommends 8-10 pounds of cement per linear foot of trench (16
to 20 inches wide) or price per foot would be around 8 dollars.  Plus you
still need a ground conductor of some appreciable gauge, but no ground rods
are specified.

     I'm still looking for reprints of the original article, but the
manufacturer's brochure includes a couple of pretty good papers on designing
grounding systems with their material.  They claim that the trench length
(and hence, the material needed) is less than with unencased conductors due
to increased contact with the earth (and lower resistance) from the large
volume of conductive cement.

BOTTOM LINE:  Probably too costly for normal amateur installations, but for
rocky soil or mountainous locations, might just do the trick.

FWIW.  Not an employee, just an interested TT'er.


73 de
Gene Smar  AD3F


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