RadioBanter - View Single Post

Channel Jumper · February 5th 16, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph Mowery

"Bob Wilson" wrote in message
...
Yes, there is a problem with aluminum to copper connections.

There are various "greases" to solve the problem.

That grease is widely used where aluminum power wiring comes in from a
pole and connects to a lug in a meter. And for that matter when I have
bought wiring panels (I mean the box where your power fuses or circuit
breakers live) they have come with a sticker saying the grease must be
used wherever wire other than copper connects to the panel.
Bob, WA9D

That grease is fine for inside a house where it does not get wet. Outside
for antennas it would probably wash off after a few rains. Then with the
wet conductors you get what is called galvanic corrosion.

The more distance in the chart it is, the faster this action is.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_corrosion

You can buy stainless steel tape at most welding shops.
The tape is used to protect threads and valuable machined parts from weld slag. If you apply it to the copper, the aluminum will not corrode.
The problem with stainless steel is that it is an alloy and has a different dielectric constant than either the aluminum or the copper.

As one poster said, your efforts would be rewarded if you just used a larger diameter aluminum loop and forgot about the copper. Especially if you were going to install this antenna permanently in a place that was not easily accessible.