[TowerTalk] ground rods and wells

[Mark Robinson]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "jimlux" <jimlux at earthlink.net>
To: <Cqtestk4xs at aol.com>
Cc: <TOWERTALK at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, 04 January, 2011 10:10 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] ground rods and wells


> Cqtestk4xs at aol.com wrote:
>>
>> In a message dated 1/4/2011 7:24:43 AM Greenwich Standard Time,
>> K8RI-on-TowerTalk at tm.net writes:
>>
>> I say  the well casing is a bad idea as many wells have submersible pumps
>> which  are easily damaged by lightning strikes the local electricians
>> tell me and  it does sound plausible.
>>
>
>  Those submersible pumps  are
>> expensive to replace and a 165 foot  4 inch casing makes a great path 
>> for
>> lightning.
>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>
> I wonder what the actual fault path was?  Assume for a minute that the
> pump wiring were bonded to the top of the casing.  If lightning hits,
> everything should rise and fall together? or maybe not.. differential
> current flows in the power wires and the casing, so there's a potential
> difference?
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I know that my pump wiring isn't bonded to the well casing. Should it be?


Also when I was running my tower grounding system I decided not to attach 
the the well casing to the system. I am a little concerned as one of the 
ground wire runs, passes within 10 feet of the well head.

Mark N1UK