[Antennas] Copper weld wire radials?

[David J. Ring, Jr.]

Don't do it.

The copper will either scrape off, or corrode when in contact with the 
minerals and water in the ground.  When using copper, use real copper.  I've 
also used "hardware cloth" - a steel gridwork in long 18 inch wide strips 
and woven THHN covered wire through it for "extra length".  I stripped some 
of the #14 AWG THHN wire and wrapped it around the hardware cloth and used 
"cable clamps" or "wire clamps" - they were made by Bundy and have a saddle 
and threaded nut which compresses the saddle against the wire and the bottom 
of the hex headed screw top.  They're sold by electrical supply houses, the 
small size is suitable for smaller #14 wire or so - if it is too small, 
double up on the wire by making it go in and out before tightening it up. 
Also wire nuts will work.  I wrap the wire nuts with electrical tape, then I 
paint with "Liquid Tape" - this is the MOST important step.  "Liquid Tape" 
completely stops deterioration of the contact.

You can get hardware cloth staples - lawn staples - which are about 4 inches 
long which will let you put in radials so they will stay on the lawn. 
Available at "finer hardware stores".

73

David N1EA
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "KeViN_S" <n0cwr at yahoo.com>
To: "Antennas" <Antennas at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, August 14, 2006 3:31 PM
Subject: [Antennas] Copper weld wire radials?


Has any one used copper weld (mig) wire for 80/160m
vertical radials? It appears as if the copper would
disappear eventually but if soldered at
the base connection points would ok?


Or,
Is there other (cheap) wire that may have been used?

Looking at regular electrical wire prices. Lots more dollars!

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