Hi, Bob- I wouldn't risk this, personally, for the small benefit that might be gained. Consider- if your tower ever takes a direct lightning hit, nearby ground currents can be very high indeed. There are some cases documented where concrete fractured or even exploded as a result of these violent internal currents. Even many decades old, it still has some internal moisture content. During the pulse, it flashes to steam. That energy has to go somewhere. The same thing happens when lightning shatters a tree- due to the high current density, the internal sap flashes to steam and the tree literally explodes. If I were looking at this problem, I'd be asking myself "how can I encourage the pulse of current to spread out alongside and parallel to the driveway?"
Our neighbors took a direct hit to their roof a few decades back- some recently planted shrubs next to the underground transformer in their front yard literally exploded out of the ground and landed some 15+ feet away in the street out front. I would never underestimate the potential for mayhem when it comes to lightning. 73, David K3KY Topbanders, I searched the archives under "ground screen" and could not find info on my situation. I have a 15 foot by 70 foot, 6 inch thick concrete parking slab along side our house. My tower is about 15 feet away from the side of the slab. I am planning radials to extend out from the tower which I will be shunt feeding for 160M and remembered that the slab has welded wire mesh reinforcement at mid depth. The welded mesh is 6 in by 6 in and # 8 wire. Would the mesh be a good ground screen ? I will have to drill and connect to the mesh at various places but would be worth it if a good ground screen. Bob K6UJ _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
