[Boatanchors] Re: [AMRadio] Tower Construction

Tue Jun 13 18:40:52 EDT 2006

Here at Turner Broadcasting, we run our ground wires from our satellite dishes through 1/2" PVC conduit until it clears the concrete.  We use either 0 or 00 stranded wire from several points on the dish pedestal to our underground ground grid.  The grid is 1/2" copper pipe that is connected to our chemrods - 15' hollow copper rods that contain salt and are buried and all connected together and to our static array 'umbrella's'.
> 
> From: Glenn Little WB4UIV <glennmaillist at bellsouth.net>
> Date: 2006/06/12 Mon AM 07:43:16 EDT
> To: "Ed Swynar" <gswynar at durham.net>, 
> 	"Stevan A. White" <w5saw at pathwayz.com>, 
> 	"'Discussion of AM Radio'" <amradio at mailman.qth.net>, 
> 	<boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Re: [AMRadio] Tower Construction
> 
> When a ground wire (to protect from lightning) is run through concrete, it 
> MUST be run through something non conductive to isolate it from the 
> concrete. If it is run through something metallic, the metal acts as a 
> choke impeding the energy of the lightning from going to ground. If in 
> direct contact with the moist concrete, steam will be generated at a 
> strike, possibly exploding the concrete in the area of the ground wire.
> 
> In a previous job I had to do field visits for evaluating lightning damage. 
> Motorola R-56 and MIL-HDBK-419 are great references. If followed, you will 
> incur minimal lightning damage. If you elect to not follow these, have a 
> very good insurance policy.
> 
> 
> 
> 73
> Glenn
> WB4UIV
> Acting Chief Engineer WCIV TV
> 
> At 07:13 AM 06/12/06, Ed Swynar wrote:
> >Hi Steve,
> >
> >By running the ground through the concrete itself, do you not risk the
> >potential of the block being damaged, should your tower suffer from a direct
> >lightning strike...? Or is this merely another "...urban legend" I've heard
> >about tower installation, that has clung to the grey cells lo these many
> >years...? Hi Hi
> >
> >~73~ Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ
> >
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Stevan A. White" <w5saw at pathwayz.com>
> >To: "'Discussion of AM Radio'" <amradio at mailman.qth.net>;
> ><boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
> >Sent: Sunday, June 11, 2006 11:32 PM
> >Subject: RE: [AMRadio] Tower Construction
> >
> >
> > > DO RUN THE GROUND THROUGH THE CONCRETE!  Take a look at the information on
> > > this site first though.  You may be glad you did.
> > >
> > > http://www.scott-inc.com/html/ufer.htm
> > >
> > > Best Regards,
> > > Steve White, W5SAW
> > > SW Commercial Electronics
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Ed Swynar [mailto:gswynar at durham.net]
> > > Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2006 2:16 PM
> > > To: Discussion of AM Radio; boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> > > Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Tower Construction
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi Dave,
> > >
> > > I have a 48' tall, tapered, self-supporting "Delhi"-brand tower --- 6
> > > sections at 8' long each.
> > >
> > > The prescribed / manufacturer's recommendation is to bolt a 3' straight
> > > formed extention at the base of each leg (total of 3), & to "suspend"
> >these
> > > (a temporary wooden "cradle" will do admirably, as the cement sets) in a
> > > hole dug 4' square, & 4-1/2' deep --- the cement is to come but a few
> >inches
> > > below the bottom legs of the actual tower section.
> > >
> > > Oh yes --- the bottom 1' of the square hole is to be "belled" outward a
> > > foot, or so.
> > >
> > > The documentation says this is good for heights of up to 64', or so...I've
> > > never gone beyond 48', & have never, EVER had an ounce of trouble in the
> >two
> > > locations that I've had my tower up.
> > >
> > > BTW, the top of the tower as an old Cornell-Dubelier AR-44 rotator, & a
> > > 3-element Hy-Gain TH3 MkIII triband yagi...
> > >
> > > Use "industrial"-grade coarse cement, & do NOT run any ground leads
> >through
> > > the block itself!
> > >
> > > ~73~ Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "david knepper" <collinsradio at adelphia.net>
> > > To: <AMradio at mailman.qth.net>; <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
> > > Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2006 12:44 PM
> > > Subject: [AMRadio] Tower Construction
> > >
> > >
> > > > I am thinking about buying a stick of Rohn 55G in cement with about 3
> > > > or 4 feet sticking out of the ground.  I wonder how many sections of
> > > > 55G I
> > > could
> > > > mount without guys.  I do have a strong base plate for the 55G but
> > > cementing
> > > > a section seems to be sturdier.  Any thoughts?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks
> > > >
> > > > Dave, W3ST
> > > > Publisher of the Collins Journal
> > > > Secretary to the Collins Radio Association
> > > > www.collinsra.com - the CRA Website
> > > > Now with PayPal
> > > > CRA Nets: 3805 Khz every Monday at 8 PM EST
> > > > and 14255 every Saturday at 12 Noon EST
> > > >
> > > > ______________________________________________________________
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> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ______________________________________________________________
> > > AMRadio mailing list
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> > > Post: mailto:AMRadio at mailman.qth.net
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> > > AM List Admin: Brian Sherrod/w5ami, Paul Courson/wa3vjb
> > >
> >
> >
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> 
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> 
>