[TowerTalk] Best way to attach radial to radial plate

[Jim Lux]

On 7/2/11 11:23 AM, john at kk9a.com wrote:
> Radials should not be your lightning ground and if the vertical element is
> insulated how would the energy even reach the radial system.  My towers have
> taken a number of lightning strikes and I have never seen solder "vaporize".
> I personally just wrap the wire around the 1/4" bolt and screw it to the
> ground plate , but you could also use crimp on ring terminals with
> additional solder for a better connection.  Terminals are not really
> physically strong so make sure that the wire does not get moved a lot after
> installation.
>

My current favorite scheme for this sort of thing is the "grounding bar" 
used inside a circuit breaker box.  It has a couple dozen holes with 
clamp screws on each one.

http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/ProductDetails.aspx?SKU=34820

Strip the wire, shove it in, crank it down, done...

Some kinds of these are probably better for this application.. there are 
some that have multiple little ridges to "dig into" the conductor and 
form a gastight seal so it doesn't corrode.  Some have a sliding saddle 
arrangement that grips the wire better than others.

IN any case, get 5 of these for $5 each, and you're ready to go with 
your 60 radials or whatever.