Hi Patrick
How deep is enough to protect against lightning damage ? It all depends on
the ground conductivity - and soil tests. But in doubt go as deep as you
can.
Can I suggest you do some reading here:
http://www.copper.org/applications/electrical/pq/casestudy/nebraska.html
The case studies and methods of solving are what we based our own grounding
of our 70 metre high 936 Khz AM mast on.
We are located at Fitzroy Crossing Western Australia 260km inland from Derby
Western Australia and we get massive lightning storms. Since I have
been station manager it has been my aim to correct and solve our equipment
losses from lightning damage. In august last year we knew the Wet Season
was fast approaching and we contracted a drilling rig to drill 3x to below
20 metres ( 60 feet ) holes. We have a 20 metre shaft about 1 metre from
the AM mast GEM ( Ground Enhancing Material made by Erico ) was poured as
a liquid paste ( 7 bags ) into the first hole. We then lowered section by
section of copper rod and attached with 2 inch copper strap the rod to the
mast. Another 26 metre hole located close to the hut has also been recently
completed.
Since installing we have had no equipment breakdowns - deep grounding is
excellent insurance if you live in lightning prone areas ( don't we all !! )
Hope this helps / Chris
On Thu, Apr 1, 2010 at 8:26 AM, <navydude1962@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I used one and it went in like a hot knife through butter...
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Patrick Barkey <n9rvee@gmail.com>
> Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:00:36
> To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Ground rods with jack hammer drill
>
> Has anyone on this list ever tried installing ground rods in rocky soil
> with
> a big jack hammer drill? What I had in mind was replacing the big with the
> ground rod and driving it in. Having zero luck in this rocky stuff called
> soil in western Montana.
>
> I am thinking of one of those big Hilti things with a jack hammer setting:
>
>
> http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0036SCVSM/ref=asc_df_B0036SCVSM1071795?smid=A1QNWKKF9WDH43
>
> - Pat
> N9RV
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