[TowerTalk] Cadwelding to Rohn 45G and 55G

[Larry Loen]

That may be a nice alternative, but what advantage does it offer over
simply connecting a regular ground clamp?

It seems like a very nice idea, but I need to understand what I gain versus
just clamping and having done with it.  If I did the "classic" thing and
cadwelded to the tower legs, I would not be depending on bolts.

On the other hand, I'm already (arguably) depending on six sets of bolts
"above" me to connect the top sections to the bottom tower section anyhow.
You could argue:  What's one more set of bolts?

Anyone know what I would be trading-off here?


WO7R

On Fri, Feb 12, 2016 at 12:44 PM, <TexasRF at aol.com> wrote:

> Larry, can you connect some tinned copper lugs to the lower set of three
> (or six) leg bolts using the existing bolts? For added security, you could
> add six locking nuts. The ground wires would then connect to the lugs of
> course.
>
> 73,
> Gerald K5GW
>
>
>
> In a message dated 2/12/2016 1:39:10 P.M. Central Standard Time,
> lwloen at gmail.com writes:
>
> I am in the process of putting in two new towers on my property (yes, I am
> blessed).
>
> I'm a little nervous about Cadwelding to the legs.  I suppose you'll all
> tell me it has been done dozens of times, but I have visions of blowing a
> hole through one of the legs near the bottom of my tower.
>
> The alternative, I suppose, is to get a set of quality ground clamps, clamp
> it maybe three times (I assume this would help the impedance a bit) and the
> inspect it over time.
>
> I also plan to have an extensive "ground ring" around the tower.  On my
> current crankup, I cadwelded to all three "legs" except it was easy to
> Cadweld to a nice thick base and not to the tower, proper.  Effectively
> required, in fact.  So, I Cadwelded to stuff that wasn't a big deal,
> structurally.  Here it would be.
>
> 1.  Do I Cadweld anyway?  How to be sure the tower leg isn't weakened?
>
> 2.  Do I do it to a single leg or all three?  I could "feed" my ground ring
> from a single leg, I suppose.
>
> This is all in excess of what Rohn shows, which is a single, clamped line
> from the tower, but I've always taken it for granted the smart thing to do
> is have a more extensive network.  I plan on three rods, connected as a
> ring, and then copper "lines" out from each of them to another rod, a total
> of six in all.  That's all easy and been done (by me) before.  Question is,
> what's the best way to connect to the tower itself?  I have the "buried
> tower section" type of base.  We will be pouring concrete late next week.
> So, I have about a month to plan and execute my ground system.
>
>
> Larry WO7R
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