>From: Doug Waller <NX4D@comcast.net>
> > I now use a silver alloy that is used by plumbers to solder copper water
> > pipes. It comes in flat sticks about 1/8" wide and 18" long. You need
>a
> > brazing torch because an ordinary propane torch doesn't get hot enough.
>I
> > use a "MAPP GAS" torch, which looks and works exactly like a propane
>torch.
This got me thinking. I went out to the tower Sunday afternoon and dug
through the soil to the termination point of my radial system. It consists
of heavy gauge 1 1/2" wide copper strap in a rectangle surrounding the
concrete tower base pier. The radials are brazed to the copper strap with
the silver alloy solder. I checked the soldered connections of several
radials, and they appeared intact. Everything had a black looking coating
of oxide, so I took a stiff brush to several radial terminations, and the
silver solder polished right up, still completely coating the solder with no
apparent corrosiion between the wires and the strap. I tried wiggling some
of the wires, and I believe I would have broken the copper wire from metal
fatigue before the brazed connection would have come loose.
I believe this is the standard procedure for AM broadcast radial systems. I
believe they all use some kind of silver brazing. Luckily the soil here
doesn't eat up the bare copper or the silver solder.
Don K4KYV
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