[TowerTalk] height of ground rod at tower base

[Paul Christensen]

Jeff,

Here's a link to a Seapac presentation on NEC Article 810 and amateur radio.
Start around p. 26.  

https://www.seapac.org/documents/seminars/2013/2013-Kuhlman-Applying%20the%2
0NEC%20to%20Amateur%20Radio.pdf

In my case, the inspector wanted the tower base installed exactly as shown
by my P.E. at the time I applied for the construction permits.  The P.E.
copied the Pirod grounding plans in their entirety.  That meant three 8 ft.
ground rods, placed at the foot of each tower leg and connected with #2 soft
copper wire to a ground rod+clamp.  Your inspector should have no issue with
a buried ground rod provided the clamp is meant for burial, or it's
exothermically welded.    

That said, to pass inspection, the tower ground was installed as per the
P.E., which followed Pirod.  I kept the ground rod end visible for the
inspection.  I didn't care because in three weeks, it will all be ripped up
and started over with a Motorola R56 system. 

The inspector was deeply concerned that I installed a Ufer ground in the
self-supporting tower piers when not specified by the P.E.  I was gulping at
the thought of a P.E. redraft of the documentation, but it wasn't needed.
After a lengthy discussion and on-site review of printed Ufer literature, he
begrudgingly approved it.  

Paul, W9AC

-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Jeff
Sent: Monday, October 23, 2017 10:00 PM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] height of ground rod at tower base

What does the NEC code (meaning a safety ground and not the more expansive
proper lightning dissipation) for minimal grounding of a tower?

I need to get the rural county building inspectors out to look at my towers
and want to show them something that they will have seen before with respect
to a basic safety ground.  From what I understand locally that means a pair
of ground rods in a configuration like what would be required at a house for
the mains entry.

To that end I am unsure what the height of the ground rod should be in the
NEC context?  Is the connection wire/rod joint to be made above grade, even
with grade or below grade?

73/jeff/ac0c
www.ac0c.com
alpha-charlie-zero-charlie


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