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Re: [TowerTalk] Tower Legs

To: Cqtestk4xs@aol.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tower Legs
From: Grant Saviers <grants2@pacbell.net>
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:03:36 -0800
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
I just put in Ufers in a perimeter foundation.  According to code here 
they need to be a 20' long rebar less the stub out and tied to the other 
rebar (4 x #5 x 262' in my case).  #4 (1/2") was used for the stub 20' 
and I think it would take quite a strike to vaporize it.  For my tower, 
I welded rebar all around at two levels to the 6 x 1 1/8" anchor bolts, 
mainly to keep them in place during the pour (K7LXC idea).  That cage is 
also wired to the structural cage, making a Ufer out of the concrete 
tower base, which has about 250 sq ft of contact area with wet ground.

In a prior thread the concrete/wire damage issue was covered - what 
should be avoided is short paths through the concrete between 
conductors, think resistors.  If the rebars are spaced then there is a 
lot of concrete to handle the current = lower power density.  Otherwise, 
tie or tack weld them together (if the inspector allows that).

b.t.w. today my electrician told me the NEC now requires GFI's on ALL AC 
outlets above uncovered concrete floors.  A real $$ and maintenance 
pain, but note the thinking about how conductive concrete really is.

Grant KZ1W



On 12/22/2011 5:11 PM, Cqtestk4xs@aol.com wrote:
> If that's the case, why do we use UFERS?  Same concept.  Just  wondering.
>
> Bill K4XS
>
>
> In a message dated 12/23/2011 12:58:34 A.M. Greenwich Standard Time,
> wa8jxm@gmail.com writes:
>
>
> On  Dec 22, 2011, at 2:18 PM, David Gilbert wrote:
>
>> I put up an An  Wireless HD-70 tower and exothermically welded some
>> ground wires to  the base section before it was embedded in the concrete,
>> figuring  that down there (roughly four feet below the surface of the
>> concrete)
>
> Poor choice AFAIK.   My understanding is that if the  tower gets takes a
> heavy hit by lightning, the wire could vaporize and crack  the concrete.
>
> Ken  WA8JXM
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