Hi Tony,
It is not a good idea to use AL to expand your ground system. The galvanic
corrosion at the CU-AL joint would be negligible compared to the rate of
corrosion loss of the AL metal in direct contact with the soil. Aluminum
is very electronegative compared to most other metals and will become
sacrificial as a buried component in your ground system. In fact, Aluminum
is sometimes intentionally used as a buried sacrificial anode for cathodic
corrosion protections systems.
Matt
KM5VI
-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Tony
Brock-Fisher via TowerTalk
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2014 1:38 PM
To: Towertalk
Subject: [TowerTalk] Aluminum for protective ground?
A question for the esteemed masses:
What is the advisability of using aluminum conductors for lightning grounds?
For example, I have a ground system consisting of #6 stranded copper and
multiple ground rods. I would like to add on to the system, and I have a
bunch of #2 aluminum available (old line drop stuff). Can that be used?
1. Would it handle the current? Or would it vaporize?
2. I know there are issues about Cu-AL connections which would have to be
addressed.
What Say?
-Tony, K1KP
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