[Boatanchors] Grounds, thanks all

[Phil]

I want to thank everyone for all the good suggestions.

I once used the braid from RG8 coax for ground connections on a 
Butternut HF-2V antenna.  When I took the antenna down after about a 
year's use, the braid was heavily corroded, nearly corroded through in 
places (it was roof mounted and grounded to the metal roof and gutter).  
So that was out, and besides the only coax I have are a 15 foot length 
of RG-213 and a 55 foot length of RG-213, both with connectors and with 
plans to use on antennas in the future.

After reading some of the replies I went down to OSH and I just got 
back.  It turns out they didn't have any aluminum wire anyway.  I got to 
talking to a licensed electrician (even had his work outfit on :)in the 
electrical department who was buying some supplies himself.  He said 
they did away with the aluminum wire, at least here in California a few 
years back due to safety concerns. I find that odd as that is what our 
TV antenna installers always used at the shop where I worked. He 
suggested stranded/insulated 14Ga wire as that is what he uses for 
"safety grounds".  I couldn't make him understand the "skin effect" at 
RF, so didn't try.  But I DID buy a length of 10Ga bare solid copper 
wire for the grounds.  I wanted the 8 Ga (or even the 6Ga ;-) but the 
money in my wallet wouldn't stretch that far. It should be much better 
than the scraps of 18Ga stranded at any rate. . .

-- 
73 de Phil,  KO6BB
http://ko6bb1.multiply.com/ (OTR Blog)
http://www.qsl.net/ko6bb/  (Web Page)

RADIOS:
Grundigs: Satellit 750 (2011), S-350 (2006)&  G6 (2011).
Icom: R-75 with Two 250Hz CW Filters.
Kenwood: TS130S Transceiver (circa 1980).
Radio Shack: DX-380 digital portable (circa 1990).
Yaesu: VX8R Quad-Band HT (circa 2010).
Zenith: Royal-7000 Transoceanic (circa 1969).

ACCESSORIES:   Homebrewed LF Pre-Amp, MFJ-949E HF Tuner
                Homebrewed 6 Hz Filter.

ANTENNAS: 88' Long Ladder-line fed dipole, Apex at 35 feet.
           Amplified Mini-Whip up 29 feet for LF/MW
Merced, Central California, 37.3N 120.48W  CM97sh