Never used a quad but the best wire Ive used for 80/160M dipoles and
verticals is good old #12 stranded and insulated electrical wire.
Since it is soft drawn you need to cut to approximate length and then
stretch it; I use a garden tractor at one end and the trailer hitch on my
truck for the other. A comealong would work also. Try stretching with some
short scraps to get a feel for what it takes; getting carried away will
guarantee breakage. Once prestretched it will hold dimensions.
Mine have been up about 17 years, Black is very good for UV resistance.
In order to eliminate solder induced "rot" I use small guy wire clamps at
the far ends and at the feedpoint insulator. The bitter end is then folded
back with some slack and soldered to the lug on the insulator/support. The
combination of no strain and use of FluxOff equals no breakage.
Carl
KM1H
----- Original Message -----
From: "Van K7VS" <wa7fab@cdsnet.net>
To: "k2xx" <k2xx@swva.net>; "jeremy-ca" <km1h@jeremy.mv.com>
Cc: <towertalk@contesting.com>; "Jim Brown" <jim@audiosystemsgroup.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 12:56 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Wire for Quad
>I used Gem Quads for over 30 years, never had a wire break and use the same
>stuff they supply with their quads which is simply standard motor rewinding
>wire you can purchase very reasonable in large quanities (need a lot for a
>three element three band quad!) from and motor rewinding shop. 73 Van
>(ps any change from what the original manufacture used with change the
>tuning considerably due to the velocity factor depending on size of wire
>used...keep that in mind when you put it back up)
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "k2xx" <k2xx@swva.net>
> To: "jeremy-ca" <km1h@jeremy.mv.com>
> Cc: <towertalk@contesting.com>; "Jim Brown" <jim@audiosystemsgroup.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 10:03 AM
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Wire for Quad
>
>
>> Jim, you must be referring to Flex-Weave which is supplied by Davis. I
>> believe it is 19 strand. Although it does make for a nice neat looking
>> quad (It handles like cord rather than stiff wire.), it weathers poorly
>> and making repairs by soldering is difficult.
>>
>> Also, I used Teflon coated #12 wire for a 30/40M quad. I originally
>> modeled the quad with bare wire and then changed it over to Teflon. The
>> actual quad matched the model reasonably well. I don't have the models
>> available to me right now, but I can calculate the difference in
>> dimensions when using teflon coated wire when I get home, if that's of
>> use to anybody.
>>
>> 73, Joe
>> K2XX
>>
>> jeremy-ca wrote:
>>> One thing to remember about insulated wire is that it has a velocity
>>> factor
>>> at RF. If memory serves it is about 97-98% for PVC and Ive no idea about
>>> Teflon.
>>>
>>> Carl
>>> KM1H
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Jim Brown" <jim@audiosystemsgroup.com>
>>> To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 9:32 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Wire for Quad
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> On Mon, 18 Jun 2007 12:56:31 -0400, JACK KZ4USA wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> #14, 7 strand hard drawn copper wire from Davis RF.
>>>>>
>>>> I bought a bunch of stranded #14 and #12 wire from Davis RF several
>>>> years ago and had terrible results with it. So have several of my
>>>> friends. It simply doesn't hold up well.
>>>>
>>>> Jim Brown K9YC
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>
>
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