[SBE] conversation topic: how often do you check tower ground wires?

[Glenn Little WB4UIV]

I did lightning damage assessment at a previous job. We used a ground 
resistance meter to check the effectiveness of the ground system. 
Motorola wanted 5 Ohms or less. I never saw 5 Ohms. About the lowest 
I saw was 10 Ohms. You probably need something to reference the 
reading to to determine if you have deterioration.

Do not forget the sacrificial cathodic elements that were installed 
at the guy points to reduce the electrolysis. The ground rods at the 
guy points are galvanized?

MIL-HDBK-419 is a very good reference. Can be found by Google at many sites.

73
Glenn
WB4UIV
Assistant Chief Engineer
WCIV-TV/HD


At 12:51 PM 2/13/2008, you wrote:

>Those buried radials won't last forever. Copper, turning green, then dust. So

>what is the thinking on how often to dig one up and check the condition, or

>measure the ground resistance?  How about those that are not AM 

>towers (ground

>effectiveness can be gauged by field strength on radials), but your typical

>1000', 2000'

>tower lightning protection ground system?  Didn't use copper because someone

>steals it?  Ground rods vs radials?

>

>:-)

>Henry Ruhwiedel

>

>

>

>_______________________________________________

>SBE mailing list

>To unsubscribe, go to http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/options/sbe

>_______________________________________________

>SBE at sbe.org

>http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/sbe