[TowerTalk] Conductive Concrete and Grounding

[Bill Shell]

In 1966, I lost a tower to a lightning strike.  The tower was a 50ft 
Rohn 25 with three sets of two guys.  The tower was grounded an the base 
with ground rods and heavy guage wire going up about 3-4 ft where it 
attached to the tower legs.  Unfortunately, the strike went down one of 
the guys, over or through the heavy-duty egg insulators to the guy 
anchor where it cracked the cement open.  The tower, having lost the 
anchor point for one set of guys, just tipped over into my neighbors yard. 

I didn't have any grounds on the guy anchor points.  I had thought there 
was no need, since the guys were broken at several points with egg 
insulators.  I was wrong.  Lightning is too unpredictable to follow rules.

73, Bill
N6WS