[TowerTalk] Cadwelding vs Silver Solder for Ground Radial Systems

[Red]

Don't use braided cable for lightning dissipation, especially outdoors 
or in any environment in which corrosion will occur.

The high frequency components will be concentrated on the outside of any 
conductor.  That is skin effect. Approximately half of the energy in a 
lightning strike is at frequency over 1 MHz.   In a braided cable, 
current must pass from strand to strand, at the points of contact.  That 
increases the resistive component of impedance and becomes worse as the 
surfaces corrode.  Bare,solid, number 6 copper is recommended for these 
ground radials for current capacity and mechanical durability.  They 
should be buried, to take advantage of conductance from the wires to the 
soil and for protection from mechanical damage.

73 de WOØW

Dr M J DiGirolamo wrote:

>Dear TT Colleagues,
>
> 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.
>
>73,
>
>Mike DiGirolamo, W4XN
>Charlottesville, VA
>W4XN at arrl.net
>
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