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Re: [TowerTalk] Conductive Concrete and Grounding

To: Randy <randy@verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Conductive Concrete and Grounding
From: Gary Schafer <garyschafer@comcast.net>
Reply-to: garyschafer@comcast.net
Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2005 15:04:57 -0500
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>


Randy wrote:
 It *will* cause concrete to explode
exactly like wood, trees, etc., i.e.
the sudden vaporization of the moisture within causing a violent expansion thereof.

Personally, I wouldn't want
such a system in either
a residential setting for safety of persons and equipment, nor would I want it in a tower base
for structural considerations. 73 de KZ4RV


Randy


Ufer grounds can be quite effective if done properly. But they should not be the only ground used.


In a tower base you already have a connection into the concrete if you have J bolts that the tower is bolted to.
The rebar should be bonded together when using a Ufer ground (as it should be in the tower base). That will prevent arcs within.


Concrete retains lots of moisture so it makes a pretty good ground.

I have seen a couple of tower bases cracked / split from lightning going into the J bolts. But these were on installations with no ground rods attached!

I also saw a large chunk of concrete that was blown apart on a sea wall near where my boat was tied. Lightning hit a palm tree a few feet away and found a small existing crack in the concrete on its way to ground.

Ufer grounds are fine if installed properly and other ground systems are also used.


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