[Boatanchors] Grounds, thanks all

[Paul Kraemer]

Good source of heavy copper strap is 4" wide flashing strip available at 
home improvement store
Paul K0UYA
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phil" <ko6bb1 at gmail.com>
To: "Boatanchor List" <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 10:17 PM
Subject: [Boatanchors] Grounds, thanks all


>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
>
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