[TowerTalk] Joining two perpendicular wires

[john at kk9a.com]

Like many posts, this went off on a tangent. If it was for connecting two
parallel wires, I would have suggested the western-union splice. I use this
splice all the time on dipoles and Beverages. I use regular lead solder
without issue but perhaps they are not up long enough to see lead
degradation. Interesting post on using plumbing solder, that should be
easier to use on the tower than silver solder.

John KK9A 


David Gilbert ab7e wrote:

I don't understand these suggestions.   Steve asked about perpendicular 
connections, not inline, and using split bolts means that one or both of 
the soft copper wires is going to be under buffeting tension while 
making a bend around a sharp edge.  That seems like a recipe for a failure.

The rope and tail connection idea proposed by others makes far more 
sense to me.  Run a rope from the tower to an egg insulator near the 
ring.  Loop the radial wire through the egg insulator with enough of a 
tail to solder to the ring.  The ring wire can (and probably should) run 
through one of the holes in the egg insulator as well.

And by the way, silver solder ... like plumbing solder ... should hold 
up for ages.  It's tin-lead solder that degrades in weather.

73,
Dave   AB7E