[Elecraft] OT: Grounding Question

[Fred Jensen]

Sounds like you're following the rules.  You might consider flat copper 
tape instead of wire for bonding. Lightning is an RF event and currents 
will be confined to the outside surfaces of the conductors.  
Consequently, the surface area rather than volume of the conductor is 
what matters most. The conductors on one of the original transmission 
lines from Hoover Dam to Los Angeles were hollow.

As to your last question, "it depends."  There's no predicting what a 
direct strike on your tower might do, the currents are so high that 
everything in whatever path it chooses becomes a conductive plasma.  
And, just because your tower is there does not mean all the strikes will 
be direct.  The W7RN contest station is on an exposed ridge at 6,500 ft 
with multiple towers.  As Tom points out, the lightning seems to choose 
a sagebrush bush randomly more often than one of the towers.

73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County


On 4/25/2018 9:41 AM, Terry Brown wrote:
> I am building a new house. It has a UFER foundation ground. I will be putting ground rods around half the perimeter of the house between my shack and tower.
>
> No. 4 solid copper wire will connect all my ground rods together and will tie to the UFER ground in two places.
>
> I am having a sprinkler system installed and it would be possible to put my ground rods and connecting wire in the same trench next to the 1 in. Water line.
>
> I live in an exposed area and my 35 ft. tower (which will have 3 ground rods around its base and radial ground wires) will be tied into the perimeter ground and UFER system as well; as will all my Elecraft station equipment.
>
> If I get a lightning hit, will close proximity to my sprinkler lines destroy them?  How far should my ground system be from m my main sprinkler system line if it is an issue?
>
> Thanks!
>
> 73’s,
>
> Terry de N7TB
>
>
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