[TowerTalk] Grounding HDX-555

[Bryan Swadener]

I was advised by an electrician that 4 AWG was
required in my area (Snohomish County, WA) to
bond ground systems together.

The building inspector didn't say anything about it.
I think he was amazed that a ham would try to
install a tower by the book.

When I pulled the permit, they couldn't recall
the last time a ham asked for one (there are
some 2K hams in my county).

vy 73,
Bryan WA7PRC

> Date: Sun, 05 May 2013 14:12:01 -0700
> From: Jim Lux
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Grounding HDX-555
> 
> NEC doesn't require 4 AWG, in general, but
> your local electrician might have gone for
> 4, based on local knowledge.  Bear in mind
> that the local "Authority Having Jurisdiction"
> (AHJ) is the final arbiter, which is why
> it's worth having local input.  You NEVER
> want to get into a "but the code says X"
> discussion with the local inspector. You
> *will* lose.

> On 5/5/13 12:35 PM, Bryan WA7PRC wrote:
> > Hi Brad,
> >
> > Refer to the instructions from the PE you hired, and do
> > that. For my TX472, my PE (Hank KR7X) specified one
> > ground rod/electrode per tower leg, connected using
> > 2/0 wire or equivalent, with all rods/electrodes
> > interconnected using 2/0 wire.  I did exactly 
> > that: http://www.tinyurl.com/wa7prc-tower
> > A UFER ground was suggested but I didn't do that
> > because it wasn't in the plans from the PE.
> >
> > Per NEC & NFPA, all grounds are tied into the
> > electrical service ground using 4 AWG, according
> > to instructions from a licensed electrician.
> >
> > vy 73,
> > Bryan WA7PRC