[TowerTalk] height of ground rod at tower base

[Jim Thomson]

Date: Mon, 23 Oct 2017 21:31:10 -0700
From: Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] height of ground rod at tower base

<Jeff,

I know this is not answering your question, but six of the tower leg 
ground connectors that N0AX suggested here last week showed up today. 
Beautifully constructed, very robust, very easy to install. The 
connector U-bolts to the tower leg. Copper goes to a hunk of brass. The 
wire connector can accept copper strap and/or a wide range of copper 
wire sizes. There are two indentations for wire. This makes it easy to 
connect copper strap from the pour and up to two copper wires from rods 
to each leg, so it's a great splice point for the strap to the rods. An 
inspector can't help but be impressed!

https://www.cableandwireshop.com/rohn-r-cpc1-125-tower-base-ground-clamp.html

73, Jim K9YC

##  How big a gauge of cu wire can you stuff into those rohn tower leg ground
connectors ???    It does not specify on the url u posted.    You want to be able
to stuff at least 2 gauge cu, if stranded cu used.   Cu strap  will also work, provided
its thick enough.  If thin strap used, it could be doubled up, or even tripled  in thickness.
If strap is too thin, its prone to being easily damaged.  Nobody ever damaged 2 gauge wire.

##  Note to Jeff.  8 ft copper clad ground rods with the point on the bottom end are installed
with a rental, electric jack hammer. They make a fitting for the end of the jack hammer, that is
a hollow, thick walled steel tube.... made for pounding in 8 ft ground rods. its ID is just big enough
to handle the typ 1 inch OD of the grnd rod.   I needed help with that part.   8 or 10 ft step ladder used,
with rod sticking out of the ground almost the full length.  1st the dirt was excavated around where the
rods  were to be hammered in.  Then pointy end inserted and one fellow up on top of ladder with 
the jack hammer.  Helper on ground keeps the rod straight.    Hit the switch, and the rods goes into the
ground like butter.   Once in a bunch, the jack hammer is handed off to the helper on the ground,
who finishes driving it in...such that top of rod is recessed several inches below ground.    Do all
3 rods.... then start the cadwelding process, after ensuring tops of all rods are free of gunk, dirt etc. 

Jim   VE7RF    

Jim   VE7RF