[TowerTalk] ground plates (was DXE Patents)

[David Gilbert]

I've never understood why people don't just use extension buss bars ... 
like the kind that you can buy from Home Depot for adding more ground or 
neutral connections to your electric service entrance panel.  The bars 
are designed for use with either copper or aluminum, have multiple holes 
with set screws included (and therefore the wires don't need spade 
lugs), and are relatively inexpensive.  More than one of them can be 
connected together or to a plate if desired.

Here's an example:

http://tinyurl.com/7rrc7sw

I've always thought that the DXE radial plate was an example of a lot of 
money for form over function, and by requiring screws and spade lugs I 
think it is poorly designed anyway.

73,
Dave   AB7E

*
*
On 2/10/2012 9:39 AM, Jim Lux wrote:
> On 2/10/12 8:23 AM, Ken wrote:
>> On Feb 8, 2012, at 12:11 PM, Frank wrote:
>>
>>> That is an interesting observation.  Also interesting is the fact that
>>> the lug is copper.  Unless the plate is also copper this whole setup is
>>> doomed to failure from galvanic action.
>>
>> I have often wondered about that.   Is stainless exempt from dissimilar metal galvanic action?
>>
>> Why not just use copper (with brass machine screws, nuts and washers)?   Are there any drawbacks to that?
>
> Copper is expensive and difficult to machine?
>
> That said, you can get nice copper bus bars with holes predrilled and
> set screws, fairly inexpensively (considering they're made of copper).
>
> I use the aluminum ones, myself. If they work in circuit breaker panels
> for decades, I figure they'll outlast the antenna or me.  Just keep it
> dry-ish.
>