Lightning isn't gonna care about that insulation; it'll blast right through it.
Phil KB9CRY
And, you'll have a separate, extensive lightning grounding system in place
anyway, right?!!
-------------- Original message --------------
> >From a performance point of view, I suspect it doesn't make
> any difference at all whether the wires are insulated or not.
> One consideration that I haven't heard discussed with regard
> to radials, however, is lightning protection. Wouldn't it be better
> from a lightning perspective to have at least some of the radials
> in the system uninsulated? Perhaps a few heavy radials (6 to 8)
> made from #4 bare copper interspersed with the balance of the
> radial system made from whatever is cheapest. Just a thought.
>
> Mike, W4EF......................................
>
>
> > As far as insulated or not.. My gut feel is that it probably doesn't make
> a
> > huge difference. You're conducting RF, so DC contact isn't important,
> > there's a huge area that's buried. The copper will corrode a bit and
> > probably forms an insulator anyway The field gets there through the open
> air
> > in the first place, etc. On the other hand, I have absolutely no
> > theoretical or experimental basis for making the statement. NEC4 does
> model
> > insulated wires in the earth, and I've been meaning to run some
> comparisons,
> > but haven't got around to it.
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Chuck"
> > To: "Towertalk"
> > Sent: Monday, December 06, 2004 4:31 AM
> > Subject: [TowerTalk] Ground Radials Insulated or Not
> >
> >
> > > I think the article by K3LC answers my question about the best number of
> > radials for the installation in my particular application. The nest
> question
> > I have is what benefit if any is there to using bare wire as opposed to
> > insulated wire in the radial system.
> > >
> > > When I go to the local houses to buy wire it is cheaper to buy 12 or 14
> > guage spooled insulated wire rather then bare wire. When I look at
> ordering
> > it online buying locally is more attractive from a cost point since
> shipping
> > has thus far made online orders significantly more expensive then local
> > purchases.
> > >
> > > Does direct earth contact buy anything as opposed to insulated radials
> > with respect to use as the rf ground?
> > >
> > > Chuck WD4HXG
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> > See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
> Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
> questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> >
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> >
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
> Weather
> Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
> and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
> _______________________________________________
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> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather
Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
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