[TowerTalk] Connection Tower to ground rods

[Bill MacLane]

Art,
First, do not use braid or anything like that.  As it gets wet it will corrode between all the strands.  Even protected in heatshrink or other material water will wick into it.  I use copper strap where ever possible.

I lay 2 pieces across the base pedistal and when the tower is set onto it braze the baseplate to the copper strap.  At ground level ground rods may be driven directly through the straps with the straps brazed to the top of the rods.  This requires 4 rods.

This is very similar to broadcast installations without the copper loop and  radial system.

#8 or better copper wire should be used, but remember that this may still be a high impedance to lightning.

If you cannot or do not want to weld or braze to  your tower there are mechanical fastening methods as well as some welding methods that can be used, but all mechanical connections will need maintained to keep a good connection.

73,
Bill
AI4WM


--- On Sun, 8/17/08, Artmouton <k5fnq at cox.net> wrote:

> From: Artmouton <k5fnq at cox.net>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Connection Tower to ground rods
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Date: Sunday, August 17, 2008, 2:10 PM
> I have hammered in two 8' copper ground rods.
> Will probably do two more later - they ain't cheap and
> not easy (although we 
> are all dirt and gumbo mud here in South Louisiana.
> 
> I now need to attach them to tower base.
> 
> I have some coax type shield or some very large wire.
> Which one would be best?
> 
> Then how to connect to ground rod - dissimilar metal
> connector?
> 
> How to connect to tower - Rohn 55G.
> Prior owner had painted it.
> I will brush off paint area at connection point but do not
> want to destroy 
> the coating - so how deep and how to connect to the tower
> leg?
> Tnx & 73,
> Art K5FNQ
> 
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