Return-Path: Received: from mtain-db09.r1000.mx.aol.com (mtain-db09.r1000.mx.aol.com [172.29.64.93]) by air-mb08.mail.aol.com (v129.4) with ESMTP id MAILINMB081-a7d34bfe70822c4; Thu, 27 May 2010 09:15:46 -0400 Received: from post.thorcom.com (post.thorcom.com [193.82.116.20]) by mtain-db09.r1000.mx.aol.com (Internet Inbound) with ESMTP id D3E4938000085; Thu, 27 May 2010 09:15:44 -0400 (EDT) Received: from majordom by post.thorcom.com with local (Exim 4.14) id 1OHcuE-00066P-VZ for rs_out_1@blacksheep.org; Thu, 27 May 2010 14:13:50 +0100 Received: from [83.244.159.144] (helo=relay3.thorcom.net) by post.thorcom.com with esmtp (Exim 4.14) id 1OHcuC-00064O-4u for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Thu, 27 May 2010 14:13:48 +0100 Received: from mail.hurontel.on.ca ([216.46.129.11]) by relay3.thorcom.net with esmtp (Exim 4.63) (envelope-from ) id 1OHcu9-0003hJ-MY for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Thu, 27 May 2010 14:13:48 +0100 Received: from [192.168.1.100] (pppoe.dyn-216.46.157.81.hurontel.on.ca [216.46.157.81]) by mail.hurontel.on.ca (Postfix) with ESMTP id 88D67CCF for ; Thu, 27 May 2010 09:13:40 -0400 (EDT) Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v1078) From: John Bruce McCreath X-Priority: 3 In-Reply-To: <1016715129.3429947.1274945594131.JavaMail.fmail@mwmweb033> Date: Thu, 27 May 2010 09:13:39 -0400 Message-Id: <90CFBF56-FB16-42F3-B830-E7D695D2B184@hurontel.on.ca> References: <38A51B74B884D74083D7950AD0DD85E82A1C00@File-Server-HST.hst.e-technik.tu-darmstadt.de> , <38A51B74B884D74083D7950AD0DD85E82A1C0A@File-Server-HST.hst.e-technik.tu-darmstadt.de> <1016715129.3429947.1274945594131.JavaMail.fmail@mwmweb033> To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.1078) X-Spam-Score: 0.0 (/) X-Spam-Report: autolearn=disabled,none Subject: LF: Earth electrodes Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 2.63 (2004-01-11) on post.thorcom.com X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, hits=0.0 required=5.0 tests=none autolearn=no version=2.63 X-SA-Exim-Scanned: Yes Sender: owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org Precedence: bulk Reply-To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org X-Listname: rsgb_lf_group X-SA-Exim-Rcpt-To: rs_out_1@blacksheep.org X-SA-Exim-Scanned: No; SAEximRunCond expanded to false x-aol-global-disposition: G x-aol-sid: 3039ac1d405d4bfe70805ae5 X-AOL-IP: 193.82.116.20 Hello LFers, While laying in bed this morning pondering the inside of my eyelids I got= to thinking about the electrodes used for "through the earth" communications. What is more important, the depth= of the electrode or its surface area? A typical 3/4 inch diameter by 4 foot long ground rod has a surface area= of 113 square inches, while a metal plate 1 foot square has a surface area of 288 square inches. If depth is= the key, then obviously the rods have the advantage, but if it's surface area, the plates win hands down. Even= in stoney soil, it's relatively easy to make a slit-like hole into which could be slipped a sheet of galvanized me= tal with a lead attached. To make a good connection to the surrounding soil, pour some "kitty litter" into= the slit and moisten it with water so as to improve the contact between the plate and the surrounding soil. Am I= onto something here or have I overlooked some important detail? =20 73, J.B., VE3EAR LowFER Beacon "EAR" 188.830 kHz. QRSS30