[TowerTalk] Ground System

[Jim Brown]

One aspect of the lightning protection problem that is often 
overlooked is the potential difference that can develop between 
equipment that is interconnected. A lightning event will raise the 
potential on all of the conductors as the charge is conducted to 
earth. The ideal condition is for all interconnected "stuff" to be 
at the SAME potential. It is the DIFFERENCE in potential that causes 
stuff the break. This is the fundamental reason for being so serious 
about bonding everything together. 

This puts me strongly in the camp of bonding everything together as 
well as possible (low impedance, big conductors), AND having the 
impedance to earth as low as possible. The comments re: mutual 
inductance are also on target, AND they apply to ground electrodes. 

73,

Jim Brown K9YC