A different idea than lug connections, is to use load-center style ground bars bolted to the metal plate. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Square-D-23-Terminal-Load-Center-Ground-Bar-Kit-PK23GTACP/100129430
I fully agree this is not up to Bellcore grounding standards. But seems much more ham-amenable, especially for those of us who unroll many of our random-gauge radial wires across driveways and lawns on contest weekends and hook up in cold weather - the clamp screws in the ground bars are easily worked with a screwdriver in a gloved hand and accomodate any random-sized-style conductor. Tim N3QE On Wed, Feb 4, 2015 at 10:17 AM, Paul Christensen <[email protected]> wrote: > I've long thought about designing a radial plate that addresses some > significant limitations with currently available product. Specially, every > commercially available radial plate uses single-hole lugs to attach a > radial wire to the plate. The problem is that with upwards of 60+ lugs in > harms way of accidental contact, single-hole lugs are very susceptible to > rotation and loosening. > > In the link below, you'll see a different kind of radial plate that makes > use of double-hole lugs. > > http://tinyurl.com/pykx44x > > Around the perimeter of the plate, you'll see 120 paired holes in addition > to an extra set of corner lugs for system grounding. This is the type of > ground attachment required at Bellcore hardened facilities (now Telcordia). > When I was with AT&T Broadband Engineering, every ground bond at its fiber > optic-hub sites required two-hole lugs to pass compliance testing. Once > tightened, the lug cannot spin loose. Over time, the connection maintains > much better mechanical and electrical contact with the plate. A typical > two-hole lug looks like this: > > http://www.alliedelec.com/images/products/datasheets/bm/T_B/70092228.pdf > > Although this plate has pairing for 120 radials, the plate can be scaled > down to sizes of 30, 60, and 90 radials. Each hole is tapped for a 1/4 > inch bolt - which does not preclude use of an additional nut on the back > side of the plate. The center area has mounting for various angled plates > to mount saddle brackets, antenna connectors, etc. > > Before anyone with a related patent takes issue with this, I not making, > nor supplying these plates. Rather, the design file(s) will be made > available to anyone who may wish to use and modify at-will. The user can > select plate thickness, remove the double lugs and replace with single > lugs, remove tapping, etc. > > Frankly, these plates are just too costly to produce + make any semblance > of a profit. The plate shown in single quantities from the manufacturer is > about USD $500. The price of 120 double lugs? One can expect to add $200 > even in large quantities. But the plate price drops quite a bit when a > lesser number of radials are used and hole tapping is removed. > > The purpose of this message is to seek additional input for ideas. I may > create a set of files that range in a low-to-high manufacturing price, > depending on interest. > > *Please send any ideas directly to me and not the list.* > > Finally, we all know that a radial ring can be created using nothing but > heavy copper wire. I get it. This is for the person who wants a premium > radial plate with lug connections. Thanks. > > Paul, W9AC > > > > > _________________ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
