[TowerTalk] ground plates (was DXE Patents)

[Paul Christensen]

> 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.

Dave,

Good point, especially if single-point connections are used.  I brought up 
the example of using 2-hole lugs as being a better plate alternative, but if 
I were to create a radial field tomorrow, I would probably just make a 
square ring around the base using standard copper pipe, and use 
silver-solder together with an acetylene torch (not with oxygen -- way too 
hot) at the 90 degree elbows.  Radials are then soldered direct to the pipe.

Another 'cheap and good' alternative to a radial plate is to make a ring bus 
out of 1/0 copper wire.  This requires stripping the insulation, but again, 
the radials are soldered direct to the ring.

In both examples, long-term conductivity will almost certainly be better 
than any radial plate solution.

Paul, W9AC