copper mesh screen - RFI Forum at eHam.net

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eHam.net Forum : RFI : copper mesh screen

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copper mesh screen	Reply
by KC0BMF on October 17, 2003	Mail this to a friend!
Why does copper mesh screen act as rfi sheild instead of an antenna? I use copper wire for a dipole and copper mesh screen is recomended for a rfi sheild. Thanks for any help in clearing this up for me. 73 John KC0BMF

RE: copper mesh screen	Reply
by WB2WIK on October 20, 2003	Mail this to a friend!
Copper wire is an antenna only if connected to a transmitter and/or receiver and thus is intended for use as an antenna. Copper mesh screen can be a very good antenna, too, if you use it connected to your equipment in the same was as a copper wire antenna! "Copper mesh screen" is not an RFI shield per se; it depends upon how it's installed, and where it's applied. Normally solid copper (or aluminum) works even better than mesh, as it is a solid shield; the only reason to use mesh, usually, is that mesh is ventilated, and allows air flow through it...so while it is a shield for RF, it can be almost transparent to air (or other gas) flow, and thus can be used right in cooling air streams. Another type of "copper mesh screen" that is an effective RF gasketing material is pierced copper. That's not woven like a window screen, but rather is pierced using a punching tool, from a solid sheet of copper. This is more expensive than typical "screen" material, but makes a better gasket when pressed between solid metal plates, because the piercing process leaves sharp edges that "bite" into the plates compressing it and make very good electrical contact with them. In this application, the "screen" is not so much of a shield, but is rather an RF-tight gasket. WB2WIK/6

RE: copper mesh screen	Reply
by KA5S on May 31, 2004	Mail this to a friend!
A copper screen material that is an exceptionally good shield may be found in craft shops, where it is sold (also in aluminum) as an underlying formable material for polymer clay and the like. Unlike "screen," this is a true expanded metal and not a loosely woven screen, so there is no issue with poor contact at wire crossover points. I paid eight dollars for a 16X20 inch sheet. Cortland

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