[TCML] RF Ground and Brass

[FIFTYGUY at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/4/08 10:04:13 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
bartb at classictesla.com writes:

>I haven't noticed the 18 awg getting warm, so I'm sure the small  length 
>from base to terminal is fine. Like everything else, if after  running, a 
coiler 
>finds the base current wire warm, then it's time to go bigger  (thermal 
losses 
>are never good). But if it's at ambient temp then "all is  good".


    But on the other hand, if the grounding wire has  too high an RF 
impedance, it won't be carrying much current in the first place  and therefore won't 
even have a chance to get warm. By the same thinking, a  piece of nylon fishing 
line makes a fine ground wire.
    The easy test is probably just empirical. Just keep  increasing the 
expense of the ground connection until you get a diminishing  return on 
performance. In my experience, 10 feet of 10ga stranded copper works  fine. 
 
-Phil LaBudde

Center for the Advanced Study of Ballistic  Improbabilities



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