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Re: Topband: soldering radials

To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: soldering radials
From: Gary K9GS <garyk9gs@wi.rr.com>
Reply-to: garyk9gs@wi.rr.com
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2011 20:16:10 -0500
List-post: <topband@contesting.com">mailto:topband@contesting.com>
Hello Jorge,

There is very little current flowing in each radial wire so the wire 
size matters very little.  In your example you would be much better off 
with the 120 radials than 40.  Keep in mind though that 120 radials is 
way too many and a waste of wire.

For a great discussion on radials see:

http://www.antennasbyn6lf.com/design_of_radial_ground_systems/

There are a lot of other great articles on this site as well.

See you on the air..........

On 8/18/2011 8:13 AM, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote:
> Thanks all for the answers...
>
> I am working on collection the materials for the project, so all feedback is
> very important for me, thanks.
>
> Just was thinking, is the same or better to have 120 radials of AWG18 than
> 40 radials of AWG8? What´s the idea? This is the same amount of copper, but
> the distribution over the ground is different.
>
> 73,
> Jorge
> CX6VM/CW5W
>
>
>
> -----Mensaje original-----
> De: topband-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:topband-bounces@contesting.com]
> En nombre de Jon Zaimes AA1K
> Enviado el: Miércoles, 17 de Agosto de 2011 05:42 a.m.
> Para: topband@contesting.com
> Asunto: Re: Topband: soldering radials
>
> Jorge,
>
> Perhaps your friend's concern was that the solder joints would corrode
> with time and galvanic action. Some have suggested using silver solder
> to avoid this problem.
>
> I used just regular solder when doing radials on my 160-meter parasitic
> array a dozen years ago and haven't observed any problem with corrosion.
> But this may vary from climate to climate and with varying soil conditions.
>
> A simple and cheap method I have used for some verticals is to drive a
> short scrap of copper pipe into the ground at the base of the vertical,
> and use an all-stainless hose clamp to clamp the wires to this pipe. No
> solder required.
>
> 73/Jon AA1K
>
> On 8/15/2011 8:12 PM, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>>
>>
>> a friend told me to not solder radials to the vertical ring/plate and
>> between them if I am installing an array, like a 4 square. That´s because
>> can catch some noise.
>>
>>
>>
>> That´s true?
>>
>>
>>
>> If yes, how can I solder them? Also if I use a DXE plate to atacch the
>> radials, I need to solder the wire to terminals, so what type of solder
> may
>> I use?
>>
>>
>>
>> Do you have a type/model (or ebay link) to see what to use?
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Jorge
>>
>> CX6VM/CW5W
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
>>
> _______________________________________________
> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
>
> _______________________________________________
> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
>

-- 


73,

Gary K9GS

Check out K9NS on the web:  http://www.k9ns.com
Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org
Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com

************************************************

_______________________________________________
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

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