Greetings,
I forgot to mention that the tower had 9 ground rods properly installed. Six
were below ground level attached to the tower base under and around the
slab, and 3 were installed around the base of the tower and interconnected.
I have not had a problem in the 15 years since I cut the ground system
interlink!
I ALWAYS DO physically disconnect all power lines and antenna lines when I
am not using the radio to which they were attached!!
After having repaired several thousand radios that have had the front
ends(and often more) blown out of them by lightning or static (when the
owners said "I had turned the coax switch to the ground position so the
antenna was disconnected" ) I figured out that they were incorrect if they
did not unscrew the coax from their radios and physically unplug them from
the power lines!
Now as for one less TV set, I had already spent over $10,000 on the tower
and installation(and it was ALL properly done with ground rods ETC.), I
really don't think that $700 would have made any difference as long as
everything was tied together on a common ground system. The soil in Houston
is a very sandy soil, and the water table is only down about 5 or six feet,
so all of the 11 ground rods(9 tower, 1 shack, and 1 electrical service)
were down into the water table. I don't know how to do it any more properly
than that, so I wait with bated breath for any suggestions about how to
install a more PROPER ground system!
The bolt cutters SOLVED the problem!!
Kirby, K7EC
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary Schafer" <garyschafer@comcast.net>
To: "'K Van Horn'" <k7ec@sbcglobal.net>; <amps@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2005 9:10 PM
Subject: RE: [Amps] Dedicated 220AC Wiring for Amps..
> If you had bought one less TV set and spent that money on a few ground
> rods
> and PROPERLY installed the ground system you would not have that problem.
>
> Now with your ground wire cut how do you think you are going to keep the
> lightning out of the house when it comes in on all those coax lines?
>
> Moral of story: If you can't afford to install a proper ground then don't
> install a tower!!
>
> 73
> Gary K4FMX
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: amps-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:amps-bounces@contesting.com] On
> Behalf Of K Van Horn
> Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2005 8:56 PM
> To: amps@contesting.com
> Subject: [Amps] Dedicated 220AC Wiring for Amps..
>
>
>
>> Hi Guys,
>>
>> Sorry,I can't resist commenting on this one!
>>
>> While it is THEORETICALLY a great idea to connect ALL ground rods to the
>> main grounding system, in PRACTICAL terms, it can be a REAL DISASTER!
>>
>> In theory, lets say that your tower is connected to your main ground
>> system (AS REQUIRED by CODE)and it takes a lightning strike. Now, so long
>> as your theoretical ground is PERFECT, everything is just wonderful..ie
>> the 100000+ volts at 10000+ amps you just put on EVERY electrical device
>> at your home through the electrical ground system (yeah, this is the one
>> on every wall outlet) is dissipated instantaneously, there will be ZERO
>> damage!!!!!
>>
>> However, I personally know of NO ONE who posses the perfect ground
>> system!!!
>>
>> So where do you think that the 100000+ volts at 10000+ amps is going to
>> go
>
>> now that YOUR ground system has been charged to 100000+ volts?
>>
>> Humor me!! Let me tell you.
>>
>> It is going to DESTROY EVERY ELECTRICAL DEVICE THAT IS PLUGGED INTO A
>> WALL
>
>> SOCKET or OTHERWISE CONNECTED TO YOUR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM(AIR CONDITIONERS,
>> GARAGE DOOR OPENERS, etc) during the 15 or 20 MILLISECONDS that it takes
>> to bleed down through the imperfect ground system at your now
>> electrically
>
>> dead home.
>>
>> I can not tell anyone what a pain it is to have to come up with receipts
>> for every electrical device at your location (these ARE required by your
>> Homeowners Insurance to be paid for the damage). Let me give you an idea
>> of what I am talking about in terms of damage.
>>
>> Air Conditioner Unit - $2500 ( This is a really bad one here in Houston,
>> cause it gets really hot, really fast, and my XYL HATES the heat and
>> blames it all on that Damn Ham Radio Tower that the neighbors
>> hate)
>> Refrigerator - $1100
>> Amplifier - $8000
>> Dish Washer - $600
>> HF Ham Radio -$2500
>> VHF Base Station - $1000
>> 3 TV SETS - $3000
>> 2 Computers - $4000
>> 2 Printers - $500
>> Garage Door Opener - $225
>> Rotator - $650
>> Every Clock Radio - $200
>> Stove Clock - $50
>>
>> I won't boor you with any more specifics, but remember that your
>> insurance
>
>> company is going to screw you around for 3-4 months just because they
>> can,
>
>> and time is money!
>>
>> So figure it out (even I did after the SECOND time it happened)!
>>
>> Oh, I forgot to mention that my homeowners premium went up 50% after each
>> hit was settled.
>>
>> I got out my bolt cutters and solved the problem!!
>>
>> I do not meet code anymore, but nothing in the house has been destroyed
>> by
>
>> Lightning coming in on the ground system ever since!!
>>
>> Make the right decision for YOU!!
>>
>> 73 es Gud DX,
>>
>> Kirby, K7EC
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>
>> To: <amps@contesting.com>
>> Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2005 8:04 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Amps] Dedicated 220AC Wiring for Amps..
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Oct 13, 2005, at 2:58 PM, G0RUZ Conrad wrote:
>>>
>>>> Gudguyham@aol.com wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> As per the NEC, ALL ground rods must be connected to the main
>>>>> grounding system at the electrical disconnecting means. THIS
>>>>> IS CODE!
>>>>>
>>
>
>
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>
>
>
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