Topband: Grounding, Cadweld One-Shot source

[ersmar at comcast.net]

Tim:

     Comments embedded below.

73 de
Gene Smar  AD3F


 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "k3hx at juno.com" <k3hx at juno.com>
> 
> I'm improving the grounding at my station and need a source for
> 
> Cadweld One-Shot devices.  I've cleaned out RF Connections of the 
> 
> ones I can use.  I will be using 5/8" x 8' copper-clad rods.
> 
> 
> Also, has anyone brazed the grounding wire (got a great deal on many
> 
> feet of #2) to the rod.  Suggestions regarding this method welcomed.
> 
> 
> How much better is the exothermic technique compared to the mechanical
> 
> clamping method?

     Exothermic is unquestionably better because the wire and rod become fused into one mass of conductive material of low resistance.  In the case of a mechanical clamp, the resistance of the final connection will depend upon the mechanical force used at the connection's surfaces.  A bolted-type connection will become loose over time due to numerous heat-cool cycles of the seasons.  That's why you are urged to retighten such connections periodically.

     A mechanical connection that seems to be more reliable is:  http://www.erico.com/products/HAMMERLOCK.asp .  I have no first-hand experience with these but the drawing seems to show a permanent mechanical connection method is the result.  Much better than conventional bolted connections.  

> 
> 
> If I have to use direct-burial clamps, in a daisy-chain setup, do I
> 
> have to break the wire at each rod and use 2 clamps or can I just 
> 
> go in the bottom and out the top using 1 clamp.


With mechanical clamps, don't break the ground wire if you can avoid it.   But with either the above mechanical connection or with conventional bolted ground clamps, you will need to string all the clamps onto the wire before you affix them.  With exothermic connections you can break the wire to install the connection.  As I wrote above, the final connection in that case will be a single mass of conductor atop the ground rod.  


> 
> 
> Crude diagram of what I regard as a "daisy chain" setup:
> 
> 
> --- = wire     0 = ground rod
> 
> ------0--------0--------0--------0-----
> 
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Tim
> 
> 
> 
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