I should have said explicitly that stranded *copper* wire lasts
longer than solid *copper* wire of the same gauge. Copper
work-hardens to the point of getting brittle and finally cracking due
to fatigue. Stranded copper lasts longer because when it flexes, the
maximum strain is smaller in a thinner strand.
"Copperweld" v. stranded "Copperweld" is a whole 'nuther story.
-Chuck, W1HIS
----------------------------------
1. In an antenna, stranded wire lasts longer than solid wire of the
same gauge. Solid tends to fail by fatigue, due to the
stress-variation caused by wind etc.
2. It has been suggested that stranded antenna wire should be
insulated, and where insulation has been removed for
splicing/connections, the exposed parts should be sealed with
CoaxSeal, Liquid Electrical Tape, or whatever, to prevent corrosion,
because some RF current flows between adjoining strands.
73 de Chuck, W1HIS
|