[BC] Irons for silver soldering copper strap

[RichardBJohnson at comcast.net]

In the olden days, when broadcasters kept their antennas and
ground-systems in shape, I remember seeing several pages
of information about copper straps, ground-screens, and
radials. I think it's in the NAB Engineering Handbook if
you can find an old copy. Anyway, the 'tee' connection was
handled with 4 holes punched into the straps with 1/4-20
brass bolts and nuts. The result was then flowed over
with silver solder. The "ell" connection was done with
a fold (the corners of the rectangle that was supposed to
connect the edges of the ground-screen, both at the
tower base and at the end of the screen. The edges of
the ground-screen were compressed between two
straps, held at about 18 inch intervals with 1/4-20 brass
bolts, then silver-soldered as well. The radials were
installed first and ran under the ground screen to the
strap that ran around the tower base.

--
Cheers,
Richard B. Johnson
Read about my book
http://www.LymanSchool.org


 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Mike McCarthy <Towers at mre.com>
> The problem with that is you don't know there is a defective joint after a 
> fault condition (using anything but silvaloy).  Then you're really in a bad 
> position for next time with a potentially cold joint.  The joint will never 
> have the same low resistance of the original joined connection until the 
> solder is reflowed.  How may times do you check the joints after a major 
> local strike?
> 
> I always fold one strap over the other in a T or angled connection, then 
> tighten and flow the fold.  But that's very hard to do with an in-line 
> splice.  So I'll try to bond both sides and "V" up the ends a little so I 
> can flow some solder down the side.  I'll also punch some 1/4" holes in the 
> strap to flow solder in the center of the strap.
> 
> MM
> 
> At 06:59 AM 10/16/2007 -0500, Gary Glaenzer wrote
> 
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Mike McCarthy" <Towers at mre.com>
> >To: "Broadcasters' Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
> >Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 12:44 AM
> >Subject: Re: [BC] Irons for silver soldering copper strap
> >
> >
> > > Depending on the size strap and application, I try to silver solder
> > > everything.  In the event of a lightning strike, the current flow will
> > > instantly flow the non-silver solder and the joint will break.
> >
> >tin the mating surfaces, apply flux, then create a mechanically 
> >interlocked joint, heat it
> >till solder flows
> >
> >that way, even if a strike gets it hot enough to melt, it will stay 
> >together till it
> >re-hardens
> >
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