[HomeBrew] Grounding Question

[James C. Garland]

Hi Richard,
IMHO, there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't use braid to 
ground your mobile antenna, provided it is reasonably protected from 
the weather.  I've often put a sleeve around exposed braid using heat 
shrink tubing, which can be obtained in large 
diameters.  Alternately, just taping the braid with Scotch 88 
electrical tape will keep water out.

73,

Jim W8ZR

if it is At 07:58 AM 5/26/2007, you wrote:
>** Please do NOT cross-post messages when posting to HOMEBREW **
>
>Hello to all on list.
>
>I have a question regarding grounding my homebrew  station.
>
>I have purchased a mobile antenna that needs a proper ground to the 
>car chassis.
>The antenna instructions specify 1 inch minimum copper strip.
>They advise that braid is almost useless, and not to call them for 
>support if I use braid, especially under 1 inch wide. Is this 
>because exposed braid in a mobile will corrode?
>They then go on to state that  use of perforated  copper strip, 
>normally used for hanging
>pipes from floor joists works well, but this is only 1/2 inch wide at most..
>
>I am confused.
>
>Why  do books and articles recommend stripping out braid from old 
>RG-8 to use as ground wire, and why would braid be a very bad item 
>to use?   Why is braid  ok
>to use inside coax cable (flexibility?) but no good for grounding???
>Or is the use of braid only contraindicated in mobile operation?
>
>Thoughts are appreciated, as I build a lot of homebrew equipment,  and I would
>really like to connect them correct  way...
>
>Richard     va3ndo
>
>--
>I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users.
>It has removed 501 spam emails to date.
>Paying users do not have this message in their emails.
>Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>HomeBrew mailing list
>HomeBrew at mailman.qth.net
>http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/homebrew

*************************
Jim Garland
Santa Fe, NM
www.w8zr.net
*************************