[TowerTalk] Grounding

[James Nail]

Mat,

I use Solid, #4 copper to connect the ground rods, not strap.  Strap will
not withstand corrosion as well.  The exothermic 'shots' are all designed
for circular material (solid or stranded).

Jim WA2MBP


Message: 11
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2011 10:24:14 -0400
From: Mat Eshpeter <kk1c at live.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] grounding quesitons: Ufer, strap, exothermic
	welds
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Message-ID: <SNT123-W642BA6E0142EB9C5B350E7F1AE0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"


I am about to pour concrete for the base of my HDX589 tower. I am going to
go with a Ufer ground as well as the Polyphaser recommended eight 75'
radials with multiple ground rods (8' rods every 16'). Location is on top of
a 1600' ridge in WV and lightning is a very real concern. My QRZ web page
gives a feel for the location.
 
To build the Ufer ground, I am thinking about connecting a single bare 2/0
stranded copper wire to the rebar. Questions:
1) is one enough?
2) how do I properly connect the copper to the rebar? Is exothermic weld the
only way? Any problem with dissimilar metals?
3) how should the copper exit the base slab - above grade or below grade?
 
Also, seems that copper strap is the preferred ground material for
connecting rods together. Will 0.032" thick strap have significantly better
longevity than 0.022" strap? I am refering to the strap sold by Georgia
Copper.  Copper is expensive and I don't want to invest in copper that won't
add any value to my installation. 
 
Where can I find exothermic weld products to connect copper strap to 5/8"
copper clad ground rods? I am exhausted reading Harger, Erico, Terraweld
info, and can only find wire-to-ground rod products, no strap-to-rod
products. 
 
73
Mat
KK1C
 

 
 		 	   		  

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