On 29 Nov 2003 02:35:22 -0800, (Mark Keith) wrote:

(K9SQG) wrote in message ...
That is not a wise idea. If your mast takes a direct hit, or if there is one
nearby, there is a possibility that some of the energy will go into the house
via that ground rod. Antenna grounds should always be isolated from
housewiring grounds.


If all grounds are at the same potential, no current can flow between them.
Not to mention the NEC requires it in the U.S. MK

When you figure the rise time there can easily be several thousand
volts between the base of the antenna mast and the electrical system
ground. IE the voltage could be 50,000 at the tower and not even have
started to rise at the electrical ground.

It's not just a simple CD circuit.
I've seen tower strikes where there was such a strong current and fast
rise time, the magnetic field quenched the current flow and the
lightening got off part way down and jumped sideways to something
else.

You'll have to fix the return add due to dumb virus checkers, not spam
Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair?)
www.rogerhalstead.com