[TowerTalk] ground strap width: 3" vs 6"...

[David Giuliani]

I am installing ground straps between a garage roof mounted tower (at h=30'
above ground), and a grounding system consisting of a perimeter loop of #2
ground wire, multiple ground rods, and several Ufer connections to the rebar
in the concrete pads surrounding the garage, and a 50' section of copper
strap buried horizontally at 1-2' below the surface.  Copper strap will be
used in two places, each side of the garage, to run between the tower base
and the grounding system, about 50' each run.  We live in a low lightning
strike region.

My supplier carries only 6" wide 24 gauge copper strap.  Not cheap, of
course, but it's going to serve me a long time.  I'm wondering about:

- using the 6" as is, or slitting it into 3" sections.  About half the
inductance, of course, but I'm wondering if it's below the point of
diminishing protection to go beyond 3".  I've seen 1.5", 3", and 6" strap
offered for lightning protection.  

- wisdom of placing the strapping inside the attic, and under ~ 6' of
shingles on the way to the ground, to make it more eyeball friendly for the
XYL.  Most of the run will be inspectable, e.g. after a lightning strike.  

Opinions?  

David, WA6PXX, Mercer Island, WA