[TowerTalk] ground rods and angle...

[jimlux]

On 1/20/16 9:20 AM, Grant Saviers wrote:
> I don't think the Erico Ground Enhancement Material (GEM) is betonite
> based, given the dark black color.  I suspect a conductive carbon filler
> of some sort, coke byproducts were mentioned in one article I skimmed.
> Betonite shrinks on drying so perhaps it was the "competitive material"
> in the Erico video.
>
> Betonite has the same conductivity sensitivity to moisture as concrete,
> so it seems like a stretch to expect it to improve concrete conductivity
> much when dry.  If the concrete stays moist then the betonite isn't
> needed.  As in a Ufer ground.  This article has readable information
> http://www.electrochemsci.org/papers/vol8/80911429.pdf   although the
> "dried out" condition of concrete with betonite filler is not adequately
> addressed.


of course, it's a lot easier to dump dry bentonite (maybe mixed with 
cement) in a smallish hole than it is to make a real UFER.  If it gives 
comparable performance with easier installation (in some cases), then 
maybe it's worth thinking about.  Unlike dumping salt, the bentonite 
won't leach, won't crack, etc.




>
> Fly ash added to concrete is primarily to make "greener" concrete -
> recycle a waste material and improve the concrete properties.
> http://www.ashgroveresources.com/showcase4.html    I read the previously
> referenced article re fly ash and conclude that "F Grade" fly ash with
> high carbon content makes negligible improvement in concrete
> conductivity without additional carbon fibers added to the mix.
>
> After perusing some of the literature, it seems to me that if a GEM is
> required to achieve adequate grounding then use a commercial product
> that has predictable results rather than some ad hoc backyard chemistry.
>
> There are a lot of articles about carbon fiber conductive concrete if
> you google it, but that sounds like an expensive additive and difficult
> to source.  Snow melt seems to be a target application as well as EMI
> shielding of structures.
>
> Grant KZ1W
>
> On 1/19/2016 11:06 AM, jimlux wrote:
>> On 1/19/16 8:22 AM, Grant Saviers wrote:
>>> There is also the conductive material from Erico for pouring around
>>> conductors https://www.erico.com/category.asp?category=R2387
>>> Interesting videos.
>>> Fillers of something carbon increase the conductivity.  I think others
>>> may supply fillers for adding to your concrete but I haven't found
>>> sources/references.
>>>
>>
>> yeah, that's the bentonite/cement mix, I think.
>>
>> It looks pretty interesting, for those wanting a "better" ground, but
>> not interested in the full on UFER.   According to the literature on
>> their site, you can either do it as a slurry (like the videos) or just
>> dry, and let soil moisture do it's work.
>>
>> I don't know if it's dark because of the material (bentonite that I've
>> seen is very light tan color.. cat litter color, without the colored
>> pieces).
>>
>> Maybe they also add fly ash or carbon to it?
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>