[TowerTalk] grounding radials: solid or stranded?

[Martin AA6E]

My sources say that 1/2" copper pipe/tube with .032" wall weighs 0.18
lb/ft, which is what the lightning guys say you need FWIW.

Common soft copper tubing @ 1/2" seems doable.  Soft copper tubing is
available up to 2" or more, but it's probably too expensive and
difficult to work with.  3" strap would be cheaper, easier, and more
effective, I expect.

73, Martin AA6E

--- Pete Smith <n4zr at contesting.com> wrote:
> An interesting thought - what about 3/4" copper plumbing tubing as a
> ground 
> conductor?  I suppose if it took a lightning hit, and even if you 
> silver-soldered any joints, you would still blow out the solder, but
> if you 
> could get it in a coil....
> 
> At 09:18 AM 3/14/2005, Tom Rauch wrote:
> >I can't think of a reason it wouldn't apply to lightning,
> >although smooth wide flashing has less inductance than a
> >narrow round conductor. I would use a wide flashing first,
> >and then a round conductor (hollow or solid) second. Braided
> >or finely stranded or woven strands would be way down the
> >list.
> 
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