[TowerTalk] grounding radials: solid or stranded?

[William Q Meeker]

I am trying to work out a few details for my lightning protection system.

I have received and read (some in the TT archives) some conflicting 
recommendations on whether to use solid or stranded copper wire for ground 
radials (which will connect to ground rods, appropriately spaced along the 
radials). The electrical service ground for our house uses #4 solid copper 
wire.

It has been suggested that stranded copper wire would have little less 
inductance and thus be more effective. I suppose, however that longevity of 
stranded copper underground might be less, especially if the soil is acidic.

Is there a clear choice or is this the trade-off that one needs to consider?

I am planning to use copper strap to run from the first ground rod to each 
of the tower legs.

73,

Bill
K0KT







William Q. Meeker
Department of Statistics
304C Snedecor Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa 50011
Phone: 515-294-5336
Fax: 515-294-4040
Home Fax: 515-232-1323
www.public.iastate.edu/~wqmeeker