[TowerTalk] Lightnig Arrestors at tower base or house entrance?

Roger (K8RI) K8RI-on-TowerTalk at tm.net
Mon Feb 25 23:32:55 EST 2008


K7LXC at aol.com wrote:
>  
> In a message dated 2/25/2008 7:40:10 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
> K8RI-on-TowerTalk at tm.net writes:
>
>   
>>  Take a length of  the copper pipe (say 6" long) or tube  with an ID about 
>>     
> the same or *slightly* larger than the diameter of the  coax with the 
> jacket removed.  Split the copper tube or pipe  lengthwise (IOW saw it 
> into two mating pieces).  Solder/Braze  the  ground wire *lengthwise* 
> onto the outside of one  half.   Clamp it to the braid by wrapping the 
> sections with the  rubber vapor wrap and tape which also water/moisture 
> proofs the  connection.
>
>
>         Soldered/brazed joints are  not appropriate for lightning systems. 
> The only NEC approved grounding  connections are compression or exothermic (e.g. 
> CadWeld).
>   
I agree with the solder part, but today's brazing is so close to the 
melting point of copper it should be as good as welding which to me says 
the NEC is a bit out of date.  BTW TIG welding works very well with 
copper and aluminum.  Also with this type of connection even a  solder 
joint over a wide area will give a better  and more durable connection 
than a clamp type.

Exothermic is used and accepted because it works so well (easy  to use 
and repeatable results with little skill required) in welding copper 
cable to steel ground rods.  Copper to copper is a whole different world.

73

Roger (K8RI)
>  
> Cheers,
> Steve      K7LXC
> TOWER TECH 
>
>
>
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