Martin, AA6E wrote:
I've been using Flexweave (not sure of gauge) for a couple of years on a
dipole. I had a failure after a wind storm where some tree branches had
abraded the cable. I think this is a failure mode to worry about. If
the wire rubs on anything, it will fail strand by strand until the whole
thing gives out. I replaced the failed section with Copperweld - better
than disfiguring the tree.
-0-
The wire I've been using is described as "256 strand copperweld w/ PE
insulation" by Radio Works. I've never seen any corrosion or oxidization on
it, with
four antennas, now. What Martin describes, above, sounds much like
the flexweave I know...and it's impossible to clean.
Without a doubt, the greatest failure risk is where the wire abraids
a tree branch enough to be captured by sap. Once glued fast, there's
no flexibility in the system any longer.
Chet's idea of using ceramic eye-insulators as turning blocks topside
makes great sense. But for shrublike trees...pines, maples and pinoaks,
that often means being 25-30' below the top.
I'm just going to get heavier wire, and do it over again, I think.
n2ea
jimjarvis@ieee.org
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