Aluminum will work just fine. There will not be enough difference in
conductivity to matter. Just use a copper to aluminum past when mounting any
copper conductors.
73
Gary K4FMX
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:towertalk-
> bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Jeff Carter
> Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 2:46 PM
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Copper grounding bus bar
>
> I've always wondered about that, skin effect being what it is and all.
> Why
> wouldn't aluminum be just as good in this particular application?
> Considering cost, why wouldn't it be vastly better?
>
> I've never met anybody who was worried about the propagation velocity of
> their
> ground system. Then again, I don't know everybody, either...yet.
>
> Jeff/KD4RBG
>
> On Wednesday 12 September 2007 15:38, Jim Lux wrote:
> > Terry wrote:
> > > I'm looking at copper sheet on these sites to be used as a SPG plate
> > > about 16" x 16". What would be the minimum thickness to be
> > > "self-supporting" as opposed to laminating it on some substrate as
> > > Polyphaser does?
> > >
> > > 73 de Terry KK6T
> >
> > unless you want to solder directly to the plate, why not use aluminum.
> > It's a lot cheaper, much easier to work with (drilling thick copper is a
> > chore, tapping even more so, prepare to buy many spare taps and use lots
> > of lube.. soldering to a big sheet of thick copper would require a
> > fairly high output torch, too). I'd find it hard to believe that the
> > conductivity difference would be significant (for DC & line frequency,
> > the thickness of the aluminum helps, for RF, it's a big flat surface
> > either way). A wide variety of lugs are available, and a nice tapped
> > hole in the aluminum will make fairly good contact.
> >
> > If you feel that the copper is important, slap a big piece of copperclad
> > PC board material on top of the aluminum, or stick copper flashing on.
> > You could also put copper foil tape on the aluminum in places where
> > you think it's important. 3M makes a kind with conductive adhesive.
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > TowerTalk mailing list
> > TowerTalk@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
|