[TowerTalk] Site Grounding

[Eric Scace K3NA]

Hi Warren --

   I would not bury braid for this application.  Braid corrodes quickly when exposed.  As others have pointed out, corroded braid
develops a significant impedance at RF, which is not what one wants in a grounding system.

   You would be better off getting some lengths of copper flashing such as that used for roofs or gutters.  2-3" wide flashing is
fine.  This gives a very low impedance ground than solid large-diameter copper wire, and is much less expensive.

   Good luck with your project.

-- Eric K3NA


-----Original Message-----
From: WarrenWolff at aol.com [mailto:WarrenWolff at aol.com]
Sent: 2003 October 21 Tuesday 00:30
To: eric at k3na.org
Cc: WarrenWolff at aol.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Site Grounding


Hi Eric,

I tried to log back on to Tower Talk, but it seems I must have inserted some strange character in my access info.  Could not get in.
Not sure if I was successful in contacting the list administrator for help.

I am retiring at Lake Havasu City AZ in 2005; ground is notoriously poor there despite what the Antenna Handbook says is "just
poor".

So, I thought as my neighbor was installing a 184 wall with a very deep foundation and I am butting a 131 foot wall against his, I
could take advantage of these "long" ditches and place a long run
of grounding conductor in the bottom of the ditches.  Then, it would be a short run to either/both of my towers for lightning
protection.  I would go ahead and run the multiple short grounding/dissipators as typically recommended.  I would also space some
copper rods along the run.   There also
is a lot more lightning there than the handbook says, as well.

One person responded that braid was not a good move.  So, I guess I have more to learn yet.  Want to get the most reliable routing
to ground for the lightning protection, first, and then for entire station.  I have printed a bunch of stuff from the Internet for
reading, too.

I am blessed to find that there are no tower height limits at the lake.  So I will achieve my dream of a big 40 m yagi plus some
nice multiband gadget on the other tower.

Thanks for your response to my posting.

Regards,  Warren