[TowerTalk] Fwd: ground rod depth problem due to rocky soil -- solutions?

[Hans Hammarquist]

I would consider a "single ground connection" solution. Instead of trying to get "a good ground connection" set an imaginary point as the "ground" and connect everything, that needs to be grounded to this point. You should, of course  "try to" round this point as well as possible. The idea is that when lightning strikes, everything is on equivalent potential even if the whole station is several thousand volts above ground potential.


You will get excess current through the power line feed. That should be taken care of with surge protection of "regular" measures. 


Anyone else with this arrangement?


Hans - N2JFS


-----Original Message-----
From: Mat Eshpeter <kk1c at live.com>
To: Towertalk <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Mon, Nov 12, 2012 4:31 pm
Subject: [TowerTalk] ground rod depth problem due to rocky soil -- solutions?



I am finally getting around to putting up my 60' AN Wireless tower on top of a 
rocky ridge in WV. I rented a Hilti demo hammer and got about 1/3 of my rods in 
to the ground at least 4' -- but the majority are only 2 or 3 feet deep because 
of the rocks/ledges. I don't think I have much of a choice other than to cut the 
rods off and drive the remnants into the ground field and exothermically weld my 
20 gauge copper strap to all of these shallow rods.
Other than paying big money for a well drilling rig to drill some deep 6" holes 
and filling them with bentonite (which may not be possible given the slope of 
the land and the fact that I now have 8 trenches running 75' out from the tower 
pad) do I have any other practical alternatives?
tnx,Matkk1c 		 	   		  
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