Topband: ground radials & conductivity

[Bill Wichers]

Ah, sorry if I misinterpreted what you meant. 

Regarding "proper" galvanization, such things CAN still be had. There are two kinds of galvanized products these days: "flash" galvanized, which is usually not very useful outdoors, and "hot dipped" galvanized. The hot-dipped type tends to look "crusty" and dull gray in color but will hold up for decades. All the utility hardware is done this way and it lasts. You can get this type of galvanized hardware in big box hardware places, it will look dull gray (NOT shiny).

A lot of the shiny stuff people think is galvanized is actually a cadmium playing and it rusts pretty quickly outdoors. 

  -Bill

> -----Original Message-----
> From: k1fz at myfairpoint.net [mailto:k1fz at myfairpoint.net]
> Sent: Monday, December 15, 2014 11:49 AM
> To: Bill Wichers; Topband
> Subject: Re: Topband: ground radials & conductivity
> 
>     Bill,
>  The Back Stay rod was to show with correct galvanization of the  1920's  they
> stood up well.
>  The  parentheses was a reference to wire  used in  antennas. I should  have
> added "used in antennas".
>  Reading down a little further:
>  The ground wire information was to show that  enameled copper wire  stood
> up well in the ground as radials.
>  73
>  Bruce-k1fz
>  www.qsl.net/k1fz/pennantnotes.html
> 
> 
> 
> On Mon, 15 Dec 2014 16:20:57 0000, Bill Wichers <billw at waveform.net>
> wrote:
>  Galvanized can be a problem in some soils. This is the reason that  galvanized
> ground rods are no longer recommended in most applications  (I think
> ON4UN even has a pictured of a rotted galvanized ground rod in  his book).
>  >
>  > Copper-clad steel ground rods are more common and will generally  hold
> up much better in typical soil conditions. I would assume the same  would
> apply to galvanized steel and copper radial wires. I'd be careful  using
> galvanized wire for radials without at first testing it to make  sure it would
> last. It would be a shame to invest time and effort in a  radial system just to
> see it rot away in a few years!
>  >
>  > -Bill KB8WYP
>  >
>  >
>  > > Note: The backstay we found of the old 1920's Belfast radio station was
> > > galvanized iron. The galvanized surface was in good condition  after so
> many  > > years in the ground) In the aging process have wondered how Zinc
> oxide  > > compared with copper oxide. (Copper-weld vs zinc coated electric
> fence  > > wire) Zinc is not nearly as good to start with.
>  > >
>  > > 73
>  > > Bruce-k1fz
>  > >
>  > > www.qsl.net/k1fz/beveragenotes.html
>  > >
>  > >
>  > >
>  > >
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>