[TowerTalk] Tower Grounds

[Jim Brown]

On 10/15/2017 5:47 PM, Cougercat wrote:
> Has anybody had any experience with grounding towers with flat copper strap
> v.s. using stranded wire or copper braid (tinned or untinned)?

In general, bare braided cable should NEVER be used outdoors or in wet 
locations, primarily because it corrodes/oxidizes and degrades 
conductivity. Over the years, I've seen the noise issue discussed, but 
never seen any science proving or disproving it. The ancient and 
accepted conductor IS copper strap. The width of the strap SLIGHTLY 
reduces the inductance of the connection.

73, Jim K9YC

> A friend of mine who use to work for one of the major shipping companies
> said that somebody had recommended using 2 inch flat copper strap v.s.
> stranded wire or braid.  He said that once the salt air or water enters the
> stranded copper wire, the copper would corrode and small rectifier junctions
> were formed where each strand touched another strand creating receiver
> noise.