Hi Randy,
My 720ft beverages (also made of WD1a strung between ceramic
insulstors) have short lengths (12 inches or so) of 26 AWG wire that
act as fuses. Each end of the wire is stapled to the 4 x 4 post at the
vertex of the beverages. This fuse wire is recommended by DX
Engineerimg to protect the front end of receivers from induced
currents caused by nearby lightning strikes. It does not provide
protection from falling branches or, here in New Mexico, from falling
cacti or wandering bobcats.
However, to me, a mechanical fuse link seems reasonable. As I recall,
WD1a is a twisted pair of wires with a rated breaking strength greater
than 200 lbs. A short conveniently placed segment of just one of the
conductors would have half the breaking strength, and would be the
likely breaking point if a tree or large branch fell on the antenna.
73,
Jim w8zr
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jan 3, 2021, at 4:54 AM, Randy via Topband <topband@contesting.com> wrote:
>
>
> I have several 600 foot beverages made of WD-1A mil wire that run through
> heavy woods. They can handle the random falling branch but when a large tree
> falls over them they break. The wire is held in place with electric fence
> plastic insulators that are nailed to trees every 100 feet. I would like to
> add a smaller diameter wire to each insulator to act as a "fuse" when a tree
> falls across them. I am looking for ideas as to the best way to do this.
> Maybe a number 26 wire? The wire size has to be heavy enough to support the
> wire in normal use but weak enough to break when hit by a tree. Suggestions?
> 73 Randy W9ZR
> _________________
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
_________________
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
|