[TowerTalk] Tower Grounding

[K7LXC at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/2/2007 3:29:35 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
towertalk-request at contesting.com writes:

>  I'm starting to ground my tower now that thunderstorm season  is  
coming soon.  I wanted to have a good electrical and  mechanical  
connection to the ground rods, but also keep the tripping  hazard to a  
minimum.  I installed the ground rods below the  surface, and used  
standard ground rod clamps to hold the wire.   Before covering with  
dirt, I used plumbing silver solder to cover  the connections to  
prevent them from getting dirty and thus more  resistive.

>  I'm fairly certain the silver solder will  maintain over several years  
without maintenance, has anyone had  problems using this approach?
 
    The problem is that solder will melt if you ever  take a hit or transient 
big enough to make it heat up. I understand that  you're using it to sort of 
coat the connection but since it's underground and  you'll never see it, it 
can melt and you'll never know it.
 
    The only approved grounding connections are  mechanical and exothermic 
(e.g. CadWeld).
 
Cheers,
Steve      K7LXC
TOWER TECH 



 



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