[TowerTalk] update: grounding questions: Ufer, strap, exothermic welds

[Mat Eshpeter]

An update on this thread and a new question or two:
 
Seems to be pretty well agreed that connecting the rebar to the tower and radials is a good thing. The potential damage to concrete is attributed to poor installation technique.
 
I am confused about the preference for copper wire over strap for use as a buried ground radial to interconnect ground rods, given the much lower inductance of strap; it may be that the longevity of a big piece of buried wire outweighs the lower inductance benefit of comparatively thinner buried strap?
 
I called a couple of electrical supply shops today. They seem to be in disbelief that anyone would use solid 2/0 copper wire for anything; one guy claimed I would only be able to bend this size solid wire with the same equipment used to bend conduit or pipe. Does anyone actually use 2/0 solid copper for grounding? If so, what is your experience regarding bending / handling this wire?
 
I have delayed my tower base pour for another week while I figure out the final details of my ground strategy. I do appreciate the help offered by all those that have taken the time to respond to this thread.
 
73,
Mat
KK1C