[TowerTalk] [Bulk] Re: Cadwelding to Rohn 45G and 55G

[Grant Saviers]

Ground (pipe/rod) clamps come in an bronze or brass alloy.  For clamping 
on galvanized steel,  I think they are brass (Zn + Cu) but either may be ok?

I ran a 2 radials from each leg, that offers redundancy, lower 
inductance, more capacitive ground coupling, and shortest paths.  I 
would not recommend a ground ring if you want to measure your ground rod 
resistances.  Any loops prevent that assuming the leads from it to the 
rods are buried cadwelds.  I've also a convert to using bare #2 stranded 
3 rods per radial connection spaced 15' or more apart. One at 5' from 
tower then 20 and 35' out. 9 rods or more if more radials.  Best if 
buried below the frost line as frozen water is a particulary poor 
conductor..  The #2 also has enough surface area to act as a horizontal 
grounding element.  I started with #6 for the first set of rods, then 
used some #2 and after some measurements became convinced #2 was worth it.

Grant KZ1W

On 2/12/2016 11:58 AM, Larry Loen wrote:
> 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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