[TowerTalk] Grounding base slab and pier tower bases

[Nick Pair]

Ufer grounds are bare solid copper wire buried in the first 3 inches of a concrete pour with the tail brought above the surface to tie into whatever you need to ground. The NEC (National Electrical Code) requires a minimum of 20 feet and a wire size of #2 solid bare copper. This method usually is cheaper than copper clad ground rods or even galvanized pipes when you consider the cost of connecting wire and approved clamps. The concrete enhances the contact with earth and makes the best ground per area covered. Be sure to clamp the wire to the rebar cage with a approved clamp. This is all required by the code so be sure to do this if you are going to have any electrical inspections. In the case of a 9' by 9' base I would run  the #2 Cu 3" in from edge of perimeter of the square and 3" from the bottom of the pour. Then take the tail up and out the top of pour for connection to tower and tuners etc., with no splices in slab.  For your base it would take about 40' for #2 solid
 and one clamp. I'm sure that would be cheaper than four rods, five clamps counting the rebar one, and interconnecting rods. Anyone considering a new house or shack remote from house electrical grounds would benefit from this type of ground system. Just be sure to get it in before concrete foundation pour and have inspected before covering and you'll make your inspector very happy.
  Good luck,
  Nick WB7PEK

 		
---------------------------------
Want to be your own boss? Learn how on  Yahoo! Small Business.