[TowerTalk] New Tower Grounding Advice

[Dave NØRQ]

Very good, Bill.  I think you'll like it.
I put up a 64' (62' actually, I think) Trylon T600 a couple years ago.
Story is at www.qsl.net/n0rq , in case you're interested.

For grounding, I think you're in good shape.  I'm not sure I'd do the
ground rod at the top, though.  Something way up top that is really
pointed like that does indeed act as a lightning attractor -- I'd just
as soon not have anything up there pointed straight up.  However,
I'm not a expert, and I'm sure others can give you better advice.

Mine is grounded with #2 tinned copper attached to each leg, and each
wire goes to its own ground rod, and the 3 rods are connected in a circle,
and then there are wires that go out (like spokes) to 4 more rods.  All
attachments to rods were made with Cadweld -- no ground clamps that
can loosen up!

73 & enjoy!

Dave NØRQ
n0rq-1 at dfwair.net


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Austin" <billaustin at powernet.net>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2004 2:01 AM
Subject: [TowerTalk] New Tower Grounding Advice


> I'm putting up a new 60ft self-supporting Trylon.  I'm wondering how
> much and what type of grounding needs to be done.  Any advice and
> suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
>
> I bought three grounding kits with the tower, one for each leg.  I plan
> to tie the three rods together using some #4 solid copper.  I plan to
> tie the electrical grounds for each of the three buildings near the
> tower into this loop.  Each building has it's own breaker box and ground
> rod, and all three connect back to the same distribution panel.  I also
> have a lightning rod to go on top the tower, and plan to run a separate
> copper wire down the tower to the grounding loop at the bottom.
>
> I've been reading the archives for some time now.  I was looking at
> Roger Halstead's site (linked in a recent post) and all the work he did
> with his towers.  I was just wondering what else I should plan on doing.
>   We have the rebar in, and I hope to be pouring concrete next Friday.
>
> Thanks & 73,
> Bill - KD7ZAH