This brings back a memory of the day in ST. Kitts. VP2KBU and V47A V47M
V47K. We were using nylon rope to hold up our 80 and 160 dipoles.
Every night the swr would become very high and we would go out and tie
them back up again. We were right next to the ocean and the wet salt
air made short work or any insulating properties of the rope. We
finally put real insulators on the ends and never had the issue again.
Lesson learned. Here in dry dry dry Colorado you might be able to get
away without insulators for a while but insulators are a dollar? Just
buy them or make some out of PVC etc.
W0MU
On 6/26/2020 12:24 PM, Paul Christensen wrote:
I should have linked to it in my last message. Model HQ-2.
https://budwigmoldedproducts.com/antenna-connector-and-insulators/
Paul, W9AC
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Christensen <w9ac@arrl.net>
Sent: Friday, June 26, 2020 2:23 PM
To: 'towertalk@contesting.com' <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] Do I need an insulator on the ends of my dipole?
The Nylon rope is an insulator until gets wet, collects, decays and collects
more stuff with UV exposure, etc. Assuming your fan dipole is a half-wave
on all bands -- and it should be, keep in mind that RF voltage is maximum at
each end.
I would consider the common dark green Budwig insulators that have a decent
ribbed dirt path. They're stealthy enough.
Paul, W9AC
-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces@contesting.com> On Behalf Of Kevin
Zembower via TowerTalk
Sent: Friday, June 26, 2020 2:07 PM
To: TowerTalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Do I need an insulator on the ends of my dipole?
Hello,
I'm replacing my 40/20/10M fan dipole with an even more stealthy one, using
small gauge insulated stranded copper-clad steel. The suspension goes from a
post in my back yard, to a mast on the peak of my roof, to a tree in the
front of the yard. At both ends, there's at least 10 feet of nylon cord.
Currently, there's a ceramic insulator at each end of the dipole, between
the dipole wire and the nylon cord. Do I need any kind of insulator? Isn't
the nylon cord an insulator? I can work out the mechanical stress with
thimble eyes. Why do I need an insulator?
I only run 100W maximum with my system max.
Thanks for your advice and guidance.
-Kevin
KC3KZ
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