[TowerTalk] Lightning protection - length of grounding rods runs from tower?

[Mike Reublin NF4L]

My electrician (who is regarded as a grounding expert here) told me the extra ground rods would add absolutely nothing to the protection provided by the Ufer ground of the base. OTOH having the rods wouldn't hurt anything. Since he'd charge me to drive 'em I decided to forego them. He megged the tower at 4 ohms. Water level is about 3 feet.
73
Mike NF4L

> On Jan 28, 2015, at 7:37 PM, Ray Benny <rayn6vr at cableone.net> wrote:
> 
> I am about to start the grounding system for my 90ft free standing tower. I
> do have the Ufer ground / rebars connected to the tower. The next part is
> to run 'spokes' of ground rods out a distance from the base of the tower.
> Ground rods are connected with #4 copper wire with Cadwell thermal devices,
> 
> My question, or request for your thoughts, is it better to run 3 grounding
> wires out 40, 50 or 60 ft (8 ft ground rods about every 16 ft connected
> with bare #4 wire) or to run say 6 ground wires out, perhaps 30 - 40 ft
> outwards? I have room in all but one direction to trench out a 100 ft if
> that would be even better yet.
> 
> I'm in the Arizona high desert, at 5000 ft. My soil is hard packed dirt and
> conductivity is very low, with no moisture at all, except during our winter
> storms and summer monsoons. Its takes about 5 minutes to drive an 8 ft
> ground rod with an electric impact driver. Water level is about 350 ft.
> 
> Your thoughts and knowledge please.
> 
> Tnx,
> 
> Ray,
> N6VR
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