Use approved grounding clamps and conductor size to satisfy local code and NEC.
Then augment the system with silver-soldered connections.
Paul, W9AC
Sent from my iPhone6
> On Aug 7, 2015, at 12:51 PM, Jim Lux <jimlux@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>> On 8/7/15 9:24 AM, mike stokes wrote:
>> Hello
>>
>> I need to improve my radials and lightning protection. What Silver Solder
>> is best for the job and where is a good place to purchase it ?
>
> I'm not sure silver solder (called silver brazing these days) would be
> appropriate for lightning protection. It's certainly not what the code
> requires for grounding (approved clamps or exothermic welds), although I
> think it's a reasonably workable solution.
>
> For RF purposes (e.g. your ground radials), though, silver brazing isn't a
> bad idea. It's rugged, it's easy (assuming you have the right equipment).
>
> I doubt that the specific alloy makes a lot of difference. What you're really
> looking for is that the melting point is higher than that of tin/lead, and
> that it's mechanically more rugged. I've used a variety of "hard solders"
> from the local hardware store. Typically, they are around half silver (price
> varies with silver content). Pretty much anything will work with copper/brass
> (if you're brazing steel, you need to be a bit more careful in material
> selection). A typical alloy is something like Silvaloy 355 which is about
> half silver, 1/5th copper, and the rest zinc and tin. No cadmium. At least
> that's what I found out in the garage that still has a label on it.. I'm not
> a pro welder, with ovens to keep my rods dry, records of material certs,
> etc.. Others on this list ARE much more knowledgeable and may have some
> recommendations on the best alloys.
>
> As with all "melt metal to stick metal together" things, the right flux and
> the right heat source is probably more important than the actual metal you're
> melting.
>
> I use the solid white paste flux, and I've used both a oxy-mapp rig (one of
> the ones with the two "propane torch" sized bottles) and a oxy-acetylene rig
> (with a fine tip on the torch). Either works. The bigger rig (with big
> bottles, either oxy mapp or oxy acetylene) is nicer because you don't worry
> about running out of gas. If you could borrow or rent the rig, life is easy.
>
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