Grounding Questions

[K0GDI]

A couple questions about grounding.

First off I have a Rohn 45G tower. Do I need a ground rod for each four of the legs? If so how far from the tower and in what directions should I install the ground rods?
Secondly, is it better to have a ALL copper ground rod opposed to a copper coated ground rod?

Greg D Isringhaus (K0GDI)

[KD0CAC]

Greg , the short answers are , min. 1 ground rod per. leg , as close as possible inches and as straight as possible , avoid sharp bends , corners etc.
Solid copper will bend when hammering , thats why they sell copper coated .
The long answers are here , http://forums.qrz.com/forumdisplay.p...ers-amp-Rotors

[K9STH]

Where did the 4th leg come from? Rohn 45G is a 3-legged tower!

Each leg needs to go to a separate ground rod. Those rods can be connected together independent of the tower itself.

Glen, K9STH

[KA9JLM]

Where did the 4th leg come from? Rohn 45G is a 3-legged tower!

Each leg needs to go to a separate ground rod. Those rods can be connected together independent of the tower itself.

Glen, K9STH

Must be counting the middle one.

[K0GDI]

Where did the 4th leg come from? Rohn 45G is a 3-legged tower!

Each leg needs to go to a separate ground rod. Those rods can be connected together independent of the tower itself.

Glen, K9STH

My bad. I meant 3. I might try to go with a solid copper rod.

[K4SAV]

I might try to go with a solid copper rod.

I think you will change your mind when you try to buy one. An 8 ft solid copper rod 5/8 in diameter will probably be $130 to $160 each. Harger's price is $307 each. Copperclad is what you want.

[KA9JLM]

"Where did the 4th leg come from? Rohn 45G is a 3-legged tower!"

I think Glen was trying to pull your leg, I was. lol

Copper is expensive.

[K9KJM]

There would be no real advantage to going with a "solid" copper rod, Even if you could find them! As pointed out, The very high cost of copper makes solid copper rods a very bad deal. You want the commercial quality UL approved COPPER CLAD rods. Usually available in discount home supply stores either 1/2 or 5/8 inch diameter by 8 feet long in the 10 to 12 dollar range each. Not to be confused with the little cheapie 4 foot long by 3/8" copper PLATED rods sold in the big box stores. That thin copper plating does not protect from rust well at all.

Ground rods should be spaced about twice the distance apart as the depth. (8 foot deep rods spaced about 16 or so feet apart) This means bringing them out a distance from the tower. And as pointed out, NO sharp bends in the ground wire!

For some tips on how to do it all on a low budget:
http://www.scribd.com/anon-849269/d/...deron-a-budget

(Give that site plenty of time to load)