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Re: Copper braid and Copper strap (was Re: About copper strap)

Hello Reinhard,

  I have a question regarding your statement that copper braid is worthless
for rf work; what do you base this assertion on?
I utilize 1/4" tinned copper braid as the main leads in a device which
utilizes rf to inductively illuminate a plasma tube.  It works EXTREMELY
well and I have not even considered using anything else; am I missing out on
something by using the braid?  Granted, it does get hot, so maybe there is
something to what you're saying about shorting out, but do you really think
copper strap will work better in the transmission of rf?

I look forward to your reply.

Best regards,
                             Trent

-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Date: Thursday, May 06, 1999 5:29 AM
Subject: Copper braid and Copper strap (was Re: About copper strap)


>Original Poster: "Reinhard Walter Buchner" <rw.buchner-at-verbund-dot-net>
>
>Hello Brent, all,
>
>>Original Poster: Brent L Caldwell <stretchmonster-at-juno-dot-com>
>> I've been watching this thread about what copper strap is, and just
>>thought I might add something.
>> Copper strap (if you guys who know what it is are thinking of the same
>>stuff I'm thinking of) looks just like the copper braided stuff you clean
>>the tip of a soldering iron with, except the braid you guys are referring
>>to for an RF ground cable is much bigger and thicker.  I am guessing that
>>some of you who don't know what the copper strap looks like might know
>>what the copper braid for cleaning soldering irons looks like.
>
>There is obviously some confusion going on here. The desoldering wick you
>describe is called copper BRAID. This is crisscross woven copper wires (and
>coated with rosin in the de-soldering case). This stuff is worthless for RF
>usage, because the wires weaving in and out act like a short circuit at
each
>point. Using this stuff will create lower spark output (losses) and get
mighty
>hot. The word braid comes from the woven wires. Just like braided hair
>(okay, no gals on this list, but you know what I mean).
>
>Copper STRAP is just that. A flat piece of copper in long lengths. It comes
>in a various widths and thicknesses. The real important factor here is that
>it is made out of a SOLID piece of copper (and not out of woven wires).
>Due to the skin effect at RF frequencies there is no need for a thick
>conductor, as there is no real current flowing inside of the material.
>
>I hope this clears the problem...:o))
>
>Coiler greets from germany,
>Reinhard
>
>
>