[TowerTalk] [Bulk] Antenna to Shack Ground Connection

[Patrick Greenlee]

I think you did very well.   I agree with your comment that it is a one 
time expense so worth doing well and maybe some peace of mind in the 
bargain too.  Hard to fault bigger than minimum specs when facing so 
powerful a potential event .

I'll probably settle for less than the best possible design due to 
constraints of $ but will likely go with ARRL affiliated insurance to 
hedge my bets and also get a little peace of mind.  A rough order of 
magnitude sort of comparison tends to direct me toward insurance vs 
sinking huge outlays and not ever getting 100% protection.  I hope I 
choose wisely in deciding how much to spend on good grounding vs 
insurance.  I will opt for doing what I reasonably can to keep lightning 
out of the shack as mine is in occupied living space and meet or exceed 
code on outside efforts letting insurance "worry" about equipment only 
risks due to a threat exceeding my system's protective capabilities.

Good luck to us both,

Patrick    NJ5G


On 2/3/2015 3:00 PM, Bryan Swadener via TowerTalk wrote:
> Patrick,
> 1. Neither of us have any idea whether my licensed PE did (or did not do) any calculations. Since it's his job to know and he's done it for decades, I trust his opinion. However, to satisfy you, I'm willing to pass my PE's contact information to you (off list) so you can ask him if he did any calculations. Please don't tell him I referred you.
> 2. 2/0 is a safer bet than smaller gauge wire. Since the potential loss is great, I'd rather err on the large side.  And again, it is a ONE TIME investment. Unlike many penny-wise and pound foolish hams, when my butt is on the line, I have no issues with spending more as long as the pocketbook allows. Compared to the overall cost of installing a used TX472 + F12 C-4XL, the cost of 2/0 wire was less than tiny.
>
> vy 73,
> Bryan WA7PRC
>   
>      Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 07:58:06 -0600
> From: Patrick Greenlee
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] [Bulk]  Antenna to Shack Ground Connection
>
> It is unlikely that he did calculations to arrive at his 2/0 statement.
> More likely it is a "stock" prescription that works with all interested
> parties and likely serves its intended purpose. Frequently practitioners
> of a discipline give stock answers to stock problems.  Do not assume
> your specific case got special custom treatment. That is unlikely.
>
> Patrick  NJ5G
>
>
> On 2/3/2015 3:14 AM, Bryan WA7PRC via TowerTalk wrote:
>> When I erected my tower, my PE (a ham who was recommended by TT people) wrote:
>>
>> "Each tower leg shall be bonded to one ground electrode minimum using 2/0 or equivalent wire">
>> I presume he knows of what he writes. Since it's a one-time investment and I didn't want to PO my PE> (and also not pass my county's final inspection), I just did what he wrote.>
>> vy 73,> Bryan WA7PRC
>     
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