[TowerTalk] Tower Grounding

[Wilson Lamb]

Good grief, we are HAMS.  We do things on the cheap, because it's fun and 
educational.  The leftover money can buy beer, ice cream, radio stuff. 
Frugality is power!

I looked at Georgia Copper a while back, and found them to  be outrageous, 
by my standards.  Yes, Cu is very high right now, so they are locked in to 
some extent and have to do what they have to do.  We DO NOT, however!

Talk to your electrician buddies.  There are often small bits of wire on 
construction sites and some contractors don't find it worthwhile to take it 
to the junkyard.  You don't need to find massive wire.  Just lay up some 12 
or 14 ga to get what you want.  You can put it right in a split bolt and 
make a good connection.  You can solder it with a MAPP torch and silver 
solder, or a propane plumbers torch and regular solder.

Another good source is the power company.  When you see a line truck 
working, ask if they have a scrap of service entrance wire.  2/0 Al would 
make a fine ground jumper and there's lots of hardware for it at the home 
stores.  I've been given "scraps" 20' long, with three strands.

I think a split bolt can be used to hook to a round tower brace perfectly.

And don't forget your town dump.  Mine does not allow salvage, but many are 
OK with citizens repurposing trash!
And the attendants at some of the former become more sympathetic in return 
for a few greenstamps or some wheat soda!

When you see a new house going up, stop and sk if you can looko in theh 
dumpster/scrap heap.  Both contractors and power people will often leave 
stuff behind.

Remember, talikng on the radio is just the reward for BUILDING your station. 
The more resourceful the building, and the more you learn in the process, 
the greater the reward.  After all, you can get on the internet and operate 
a remotely controlled station and have no reward at all!

Wilson
W4BOH