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Re: [TowerTalk] Solid 160 radial plates?

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Solid 160 radial plates?
From: jimlux <jimlux@earthlink.net>
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2018 05:29:58 -0700
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
On 8/27/18 11:37 PM, David Gilbert wrote:

I totally agree.  I can't think of a single valid reason why a plate is even a little bit better than simply a tie point at the base. I've often wondered why folks don't simply use the addon bus bars for electrical panels that you can buy at any Lowes or Home Depot. They are relatively inexpensive, have screw connections, and make a fine non-corroding contact.  They can be daisy chained together for as many radials as you have the ambition to put down.  And if somebody wants to be a purist about it, four of them arrayed in a square around the base makes way more sense than a plate.



Indeed. The only hiccup I've encountered with that style of connection is that they're designed to be inside a service panel or equivalent, and protected from the elements. They're also designed for fairly large diameter wire (i.e. 14 AWG or bigger). Most radials I've seen mentioned are smaller diameter, and I'm not sure the screw/anvil combination would make good contact with smaller wire. You could probably shove a bunch of wires in one hole and crank down on the screw, but I'd feel better with soldering them.


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