[TowerTalk] Ground rod sticker shock

[Cqtestk4xs at aol.com]

Sure, copper pipe might work fine, so long as your insurance agent  is
willing to pay out for your lightning damage even though  your
installation doesn't meet the recognized codes.  I dunno, it just  isn't
worth it to me..............Daron J. Wilson, RCDD    
 
Perhaps the reason they don't recommend it is the copper pipe can be  crushed 
when pounding it in.  The typical installation in home construction  does 
just that....pound it in.  Jetting it eliminates the pounding.
 
I have three 200 footers in the back yard and it is always, uh...exciting  to 
watch the tower flash and have the charge go 'down the hole' with my 1/2 inch 
 ten foot CU pipes. 
 
Let's face it, how many ham radio installations out there would pass a  
structural or electrical engineer's inspection, with all the 'i's dotted and the  
't's crossed.  Jeez, these aren't Clearchannel installations, they're  amateur 
setups.
 
Bill K4XS  (in the lightning capitol of North America, Central  FL)