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Re: [CQ-Contest] Vertical Radial wire: Copper vs. Aluminum?

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Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Vertical Radial wire: Copper vs. Aluminum?
From: Joe <nss@mwt.net>
Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:29:56 -0500
List-post: <cq-contest@contesting.com">mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>
You can get both, shop around. It is a special made Alum, it's made to be strong when being Pulled, IE: long electric fence, But one caution,, while it is STRONG while being pulled, it is very brittle when being flexed around tight bends. When using it I never have had to have any wire cutters with me. simple sharp bends with the fingers and three or four bends and it's broke. But I you make the antenna so it doesn't have sharp bends like this the stuff is crazy strong.

I had a 600 foot loop up in pine trees up 40 to 50 feet, and a storm came through and I noticed the antenna was down in one corner.

The wire did not break,, the antenna broke off the top 3 feet of the tree!

Joe WB9SBD
Sig
The Original Rolling Ball Clock
Idle Tyme
Idle-Tyme.com
http://www.idle-tyme.com
On 6/17/2013 10:11 PM, Gerry Treas K8GT wrote:
I thought that electric fence wire was galvanized steel not aluminum.

Lot of Topband guys use it for beverages.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

73, Gerry, K8GT


On 2013-06-17 15:05, David Gilbert wrote:

As a generalization, I would expect that aluminum in alkaline soil is OK, while acidic soil probably eats it up fairly quickly. The southwest tends to be fairly dry and alkaline, while areas with more moisture and more organic debris in the soil tend to be more acidic. I can stick almost anything in the ground at my Arizona QTH and have it last for decades, while I certainly could not say the same where I grew up in Minnesota.

73,
Dave   AB7E




On 6/17/2013 7:57 AM, Joe wrote:
Either would work just fine electrically,,

BUT.........

There always is a but isn't there.......

Check your soil,,,, how do pop cans survive in your location.

I use that ALUM wire for all my in the air antennas. But I can not Bury it.

The soil here eats it up alive. A pop can even with it's paint on the outside and coating on the inside if buried here in like 6 months it's almost gone.

So that might be a problem.

I had some of that super heavy ALUM ground wire stuff. I mean like 1/4" thick stuff? In less than two or three years it was gone. I had it buried from an old TV antenna install.

Joe WB9SBD
Sig
The Original Rolling Ball Clock
Idle Tyme
Idle-Tyme.com
http://www.idle-tyme.com
On 6/16/2013 10:59 AM, Robert Shohet wrote:
Hi,

I noticed an ad in this weeks Tractor Supply co. flyer of 14 ga and 17 ga electric fence wire

1/2 mile 17 ga for $24.99
1/2 mile 14 ga for $49.99

1) Is there any advantage in the efficiency of radiation for a vertical between using
Copper vs. Aluminum wire?

2) Are there any mechanical or other advantages of using Copper vs. Aluminum?

3) Is 17 ga wire thick enough or should the 14 ga be used?

I am interested in the radials lasting – the difference in cost is immaterial to me.


Please advise.  Tnx & 73

Happy father’s Day!


Bob KQ2M

kq2m@kq2m.com

www.rlsfinancialgroup.com

www.kq2m.com
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