.and to add to the variables, the wires connect to stuff that can drive
the wires with potential difference from the soil.
This can electroplate the wires or wire protective coatings away, or it
might slow it down.
This is why stainless steel bolts and clamps last a lot longer on aluminum
Hi Jorge,
Aluminum wire may have a short life due to corrosion, depending on
your local soil conditions. Aluminum wire buried in poorly drained
clay soils is particularly susceptible to corrosion. It is for this reason
that the National Electric Code bans the use of bare aluminum in soils.
Hi Jorge
The most common problem of Passive Inter Modulation (PIM) that can flood
your radio with BC harmonica is Aluminum Oxide. The dielectric on that white
powder between aluminum and most every others metal became a diode with
moisture and a capacitor when dr. It can protected with all kind
Paul,
If you had trouble with an oxyacetylene torch, then I'll bet you used
silver-bearing (tin-copper-silver) solder, which melts at well under 700
degrees. (In that kind of solder, the small amount of silver is added
mainly to lower the melting point a little). That's commonly referred to as
The silver solder I have here does have a high silver content, yes. :-)
It also contains cadmium, which shouldn't be used indoors because the fumes
are toxic.
It's 1/16 diameter round wire. When it's gone, I'll probably replace it
with a cad-free alloy.
I mostly heat the work (that is, the
My whole buried radial system uses this type of silver solder to connect the
ground radials which are 1/2 in. copper tubing between ground rods. Each
ground rod radial is also soldered to the Rohn tower base plate. It has
been in over 20 years and no noticeable deterioration. I agree with the
“If you had trouble with an oxyacetylene torch, then I'll bet you used
silver-bearing (tin-copper-silver) solder, which melts at well under 700
degrees.
These are mid-level silver sticks with 15% silver + copper/phosphor and have a
working temperature of 1200-1400 degs. F – but not the 2-5%
