[TowerTalk] [Bulk] Antenna to Shack Ground Connection

Roger (K8RI) on TT K8RI-on-TowerTalk at tm.net
Wed Feb 4 09:35:07 EST 2015


Likewise!

I think I put in the equivalent of a broadcast station ground system 
(over 600 feet when copper was a fraction of today's prices.  Copper?  I 
purchase a fair amount of steel and Al stock. Steel is currently close 
to what I paid for copper 12 years ago. Scrap copper is, I believe is in 
the high $3 range

Of course I had a good job which paid a bit better than a pension along 
with SS <:-))
That would be a bit out of my budget range today, but as said, it's a 
one time shot and if you can afford to over buid a protection system, go 
for it!

No system will give you 100% protection, but more is better.

73 and Good luck!

Roger (K8RI)


On 2/3/2015 5:42 PM, Patrick Greenlee wrote:

> 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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-- 

73

Roger (K8RI)


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