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Old 25-Sep-2013, 6:48 PM   #2
GroundUrMast
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Greater Seattle Area
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You'll need to take steps to protect the aluminum from damage and corrosion. That requires the use of connectors rated for use with aluminum. It's amazing how quickly aluminum can corrode into white powder when in contact with a dissimilar metal, concrete or soil. What may appear solid and secure is actually insulated by the aluminum oxide that may be a few thousands of an inch thick. You also need to coat the connectors and the wire in the connectors with an anti-oxidizing paste. Frankly, I avoid the problem by using copper exclusively.

Copper is a better conductor so you can use the next smaller trade size, #10 AWG. If you need to pass through a wall near the ground, use conduit and/or insulated wire to protect the wire from contact with concrete, conduit, plumbing, etc.

I prefer to avoid leading the mast or coax ground into the building. You may be able to avoid that in your case if you can connect the ground leads to the exterior of the meter base or metal conduit that enters or exits the base. There are several ground clamp options to choose from, ex. http://www.cesco.com/resources/78378...achmentURL.pdf - http://www.tnb.com/ps/fulltilt/index.cgi?part=J2D - http://www.electricmotioncompany.com...?type=ibonding

You can almost always find the wire and connectors in the electrical department of the big box home centers.
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Last edited by GroundUrMast; 25-Sep-2013 at 7:03 PM. Reason: where to find wire and connectors.
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