[TowerTalk] Grounding HDX-555

[Jim Lux]

On 5/5/13 4:27 PM, Bryan Swadener wrote:
> I was advised by an electrician that 4 AWG was
> required in my area (Snohomish County, WA) to
> bond ground systems together.

Interesting..

I googled the local codes out of curiosity.. you have a local code that 
requires a CEGR (Ufer) and inspection prior to pouring the concrete.  I 
couldn't find the AWG4 requirement, but I didn't look very hard. There 
were some rules that seem to say "ground bonding conductor must be equal 
to service conductor in size".. maybe that's where it comes from, but 
AWG 4 seems small for a service conductor, but who knows.. maybe it's 
local practice..

>
> 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.

I'll bet he was.

>
> 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
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