tinned vs bare copper ground

[cvirgil467]

anyone know of the pros and cons of using tinned copper vs bare in underground installations.

is there a white papare out there that touches on the increase in resistance of tinned vs the corrision of bare copper?

Thanks.
C

 

[beanland]

Tinning

Tinning

I cannot provide a white paper but I remember something about corrosion issues for tin-copper. Since the tin is so thin, it has little impact on resistance. Because tin is soft, it can improve contact resistance in clamped connections. IMHO, unless there is a specific atmospheric corrosion issue that would benefit from tin plating, why pay the money?

 

[wirenut1980]

IMO, If one used an aluminum GEC then they would want to use a tinned copper electrode. I also do not have a white paper on the subject.

 

[LarryFine]

The one time I had to use tinned bare wire was for the grounding at a cellular site. It was #2 solid, and every connection had to be exothermically welded.

 

[qcroanoke]

The one time I had to use tinned bare wire was for the grounding at a cellular site. It was #2 solid, and every connection had to be exothermically welded.

We build a lot of the shelters that you see under cellular towers and #2 tinned solid is used for just about everthing on the outside of the shelter including the tower and cable bridge grounding. Grouding is taken very seriously when cellphones and fire and rescue radios are involved.
Motorola has one of the toughest specs on grounding you will ever see.