[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
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> TowerTalk mailing list
>> TowerTalk at contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
--
73
Roger (K8RI)
---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
http://www.avast.com
More information about the TowerTalk
mailing list