[Amps] AC wiring

[Carcia, Francis A HS]

I'm checking with a couple guys in the biz to be sure. The new QTH is 1/4
mile from ocean so I would think salt air is an issue. Copper pipes turned
dark in a couple weeks after they were installed. I will use no ox if I
can't solder the splices.  My building inspector is a sharp guy and I will
ask him also. He gave me some good ideas on grounding for lightning. He had
some good stories to tell. gfz 

-----Original Message-----
From: Tony King [mailto:tony.king at w4zt.com] 
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2005 9:53 AM
Cc: Gudguyham at aol.com; r at somis.org; amps at contesting.com;
francis.carcia at hs.utc.com
Subject: Re: [Amps] AC wiring

I wonder if we could clarify this question?

Solder in protection grounding circuits is a no no because the thermal 
heating of a lightning strike will likely cause the joint to open and 
that's why the recommendation for exothermic welds (especially to ground 
rods) but soldering was always approved for current carrying circuits 
since it makes for a superior electrical connection. I subscribe to the 
twisting, soldering and then applying the wire nut method with the 
addition of a few turns of Scotch 33 to keep that nut from turning. 
Solder is always better than a simple twisted wire connection so that is 
why I wondered if it really is a violation (not allowed) or just "not 
required". Is there a specific code section that prohibits soldering in 
current carrying wires?

Thanks and 73, Tony W4ZT

Gudguyham at aol.com wrote:
>  
> In a message dated 10/20/2005 8:23:04 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
> francis.carcia at hs.utc.com writes:
> 
> Does the  NEC permit connecting Cu wires with Ag-Sn  solder?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> NO.....soldering is not allowed.  exothermic welding is, but truely, a
good 
> marrying of the wires and a wire nut is a very good connection.  DON'T
solder 
> them, if anything goes wrong, it is a  violation.