Mike,
Don't do it!
Braid is a terrible choice for lightning or RF grounding, and its
much worse outdoors where corrosion will be a factor. You
won't find a single knowledgeable source who would ever
recommend braid for lightning protection outdoors.
Your best choice is solid copper wire. Tinned 2 AWG solid
copper is the "gold standard."
73!
Frank
W3LPL
---- Original message ----
>Date: Sun, 9 Jul 2006 06:21:20 -0400
>From: "Dr M J DiGirolamo" <DrD@2020.com>
>Subject: [TowerTalk] Cadwelding vs Silver Solder for Ground
Radial Systems
>To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
>
>Dear TT Colleagues,
>
> There has been so much discussion here about dealing with
lightning
>protection and grounding systems that I can't remember
whether I read about the
>following topic or not.
>
> I'm planning a ground radial system for each tower leg
(yes, a peripheral
>ground system and single point ground, etc too) and have
decided to use a heavy
>braided tinned copper cable as the radial for each of these
legs. I have just
>about ruled out copper ribbon for various reasons. Ground
rods will be 6' or 8'
>deep set on 12' or 16' centers.
>
> Question is: Cadwelding is VERY EXPENSIVE when used to
attach the radials to
>the ground rods! Can anyone comment on whether there will
be sufficient
>bonding and heat protection if a heavy silver solder bond is
made in place of
>the cadweld. I realize that cadwelding forms a molecular
bond but it's just so
>darn expensive.
>
>73,
>
>Mike DiGirolamo, W4XN
>Charlottesville, VA
>W4XN@arrl.net
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