On 5/25/11 9:41 AM, K7LXC@aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 5/25/2011 8:29:13 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
> towertalk-request@contesting.com writes:
>
>> Ok , I have most of my ground system planned out , my plan is to use
> copper pipe
> (type "L") and silver solder flashing to them from the tower etc...
>
> It all sounds okay except the soldering - don't do it. Any transient
> will melt the solder and then you don't have a ground system. Exothermic
> (e.g. Cadweld) or compression (e.g. nuts& bolts) are the only acceptable
> joining methods for ground systems.
>
"exothermic welding" is what's required. I think suitable "hard solder"
or "braze" is probably ok. What you really don't want is soft solder.
There's a NASA Unified Facilities Guide Specification (UFGS) document
out there from 2010 (also used by Army, Navy, Air Force) that describes
brazing (AWS A5.8/A5.8M) or exothermic fusion welding.
UFGS-28 05 26.00 40 "Grounding and Bonding for electronic safety and
security" ( lightning protection isn't explicitly mentioned)
MIL-STD-188-124, 5.1.1.3.4 Bonding calls out "All bonds between elements
of the lightning protection subsystems shall be made by welding or
brazing or UL approved high compression clamping devices. Welding or
brazing shall be sued for all bonds not readily accessible for
inspection and maintenance. Soft solder shall not be used for bonding
any conductor in the lightning protection system."
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