Wouldn't a stranded copper wire do better in the event of a strike ? If I recall correctly, lightning has a fairly large AC component and likes to travel on the surface of the wire (Skin effect). Thus by having stranded wire, it could carry a larger current to the ground because you would have more surface area for it to run along.
A number of people I know run 2/0 and 4/0 stranded copper from their tower legs to their grounding systems for that reason. 73, Jon KD5SFA -----Original Message----- From: "Daron J. Wilson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Apr 9, 2004 8:38 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Lightning Protection > It would be smart to run a awg4 solid/bare copper wire to the top from a > wide spread grounding rod array and use this with split bolts along the > way for your antenna/s for grounding, the flange or slip joints don't > really do well after 5-8 years of oxidation and mechanical coating/paint > decay. You can be assured of a good system ground by following NEC > article 250, one thing that is tough to understand about the code is the > adding of grounding spurs using split bolts to other racks along the way > down or up depending on which side you are looking from - the grounding > of the service entrance and grid must be exothermic meaning crimps tubes > which can not be backed off with wrenches, extension of the grid may be > done any way fashionable with 250, meaning fence doorways can be made > flexible as desired but the main ground for the load center and the top > of the tower must never be allowed any adjustments or changes except for > additional conductor taps as needed. Thanks, that is a good idea. Just to clarify though, exothermic requirements refer to cadweld type connections, the other requirements are 'irreversible crimp' which refer to the sleeve or tube that is crimped and cannot be taken off. Daron J. Wilson, RCDD ) ) Telecom Manager ( ( LH Morris Electric, Inc. ) ) (541) 265-8067 office _|****| mmm! (541) 265-7652 fax ( | | coffee! (541) 270-5886 cellular \| | [EMAIL PROTECTED] |____| Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
