[TowerTalk] Cadwelding vs Silver Solder for Ground Radial Systems

[donovanf at starpower.net]

Mike,

Don't do it!

Braid is a terrible choice for lightning or RF grounding, and its 
much worse outdoors where corrosion will be a factor.   You 
won't find a single knowledgeable source who would ever 
recommend braid for lightning protection outdoors.

Your best choice is solid copper wire.  Tinned 2 AWG solid 
copper is the "gold standard."

73!
Frank
W3LPL

---- Original message ----
>Date: Sun, 9 Jul 2006 06:21:20 -0400
>From: "Dr M J DiGirolamo" <DrD at 2020.com>  
>Subject: [TowerTalk] Cadwelding vs Silver Solder for Ground 
Radial Systems  
>To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
>
>Dear TT Colleagues,
>
>   There has been so much discussion here about dealing with 
lightning
>protection and grounding systems that I can't remember 
whether I read about the
>following topic or not.
>
>   I'm planning a ground radial system for each tower leg 
(yes, a peripheral
>ground system and single point ground, etc too) and have 
decided to use a heavy
>braided tinned copper cable as the radial for each of these 
legs.  I have just
>about ruled out copper ribbon for various reasons.  Ground 
rods will be 6' or 8'
>deep set on 12' or 16' centers.
>
>    Question is: Cadwelding is VERY EXPENSIVE when used to 
attach the radials to
>the ground rods!   Can anyone comment on whether there will 
be sufficient
>bonding and heat protection if a heavy silver solder bond is 
made in place of
>the cadweld.  I realize that cadwelding forms a molecular 
bond but it's just so
>darn expensive.
>
>73,
>
>Mike DiGirolamo, W4XN
>Charlottesville, VA
>W4XN at arrl.net