[TowerTalk] : Antenna to Shack Ground Connection

[Kris Mraz]

I notice that the grounding conductor on utility poles (in the US) is
4 gauge or less. My understanding is that
this wire is used for lightning protection among other things. Is it
valid to say that 4 ga. is sufficient for the tower
to shack connection since it is sufficient for utility poles?

Kris N5KM

-----Original Message-----
Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2015 03:17:26 -0800
From: "Jim Thomson" <jim.thom at telus.net>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Antenna to Shack Ground Connection
Message-ID: <
121328FF8D4B4668881A5F5913EA036A at JimPC>
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Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2015 20:44:30 -0500
From: Hans Hammarquist via TowerTalk <towertalk at contesting.com>
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk]   Antenna to Shack Ground Connection

##  The braid wont  handle the current......so u still require 2 ga
bare, stranded copper wire between base of tower and shacks  spg.
The 2 ga stranded, bare wire is buried in the dirt aprx 1-3 feet.
Then its in direct contact with the dirt.   Even if the braid of  coax
used, the coax would still have to be bonded to both top and bottom of
the tower.   It still wouldn?t work, since the braid is covered
with insulation..and not in contact with the soil.  Around here, the
electrical inspector  will go crazy if you don?t  install the bare,
stranded, min 2 ga  copper wire between base of tower and shacks spg.

Jim  VE7RF