Posts: 171
Threads: 41
Joined: Sep 2016
Years ago I read somewhere of certain situations where you shouldn't use a braid conductor.
I am blowed if I can remember what it is. Perhaps I am mistaken.
I intend to use it to connect a metal roof to the earth terminal of an AH4, the roof being the ground plane.
Anyone with an answer?
Nev
Posts: 270
Threads: 35
Joined: Jul 2017
The only comment I can find about not using a braided earth strap is in damp environments because they trap more moisture and thus tend to cause corrosion.
Posts: 171
Threads: 41
Joined: Sep 2016
Thanks Terry,
I dont know where I got the info from. Perhaps my synapses are befuddled.
Could it be DC I am thinking of. Dunno.
I will press on with the braid.
Nev
Posts: 1,291
Threads: 326
Joined: Sep 2016
Nev
You don't use braid where it is the primary conduction method for lightning protection. The individual strands can fuse if/when a strike occurs.
Bonding sheets of metal roofing is ok but remember that with the overlapping roofing materials, even if electrically insulated at DC, create a fairly large capacitance which should appear as a low impedance at RF. Hence the bonding of large roof areas of sheets is mostly unnecessary to still be an effective RF "ground plane".
The material to use for lightning protection is heavy/wide copper strap, or aluminium etc..
Doug VK4ADC
Doug VK4ADC @ QG62LG51
http://www.vk4adc.com
This Forum is only going to be as interesting as the posts it contains.
If you have a comment or question, post it as it may trigger or answer the query in someone else's mind.
