For my AlfaSpid installation, which is over 500 ft from the shack, I used the
following.
>From the controller in the shack to the lightning arrestor (ICE type) just
>outside the window of the shack I ran regular multi conductor rotator cable
>(#12 for the power and used the #14 for the positioner). From the arrestor
>out to the base of the tower, the longest run, I used #10 UF rated Romex (yes
>solid) and fire alarm cable (2 - #18), the run up the tower (120 ft), was
>transitioned back to regular 8 conductor rotator cable. With this type of
>wiring and rotating a 3el 40M beam, 32 ft boom, I've had to back off on the
>voltage supplied to the system to 12 v at the shack (I installed a 5 amp
>variable voltage supply since I was worried about voltage drop and slow
>rotation when designing the system over three years ago and initially thought
>I'd have to supply more than 12 volts.) because any higher voltage results in
>the antenna rotating too fast and making me cringe when I stop it and it
>shakes a bit. Hope this helps. Phil KB9CRY
-------------- Original message --------------
> > Where do I find rotator cable with 2 x #14 (#12 would be better still)
> >> and 2 x #18 (or smaller) conductors for an AlfaSpid?
>
> Many people have suggested (both on the reflector and in individual
> emails) Romex.
>
> Now that I think about it, I can't see why the right kind of Romex
> wouldn't work -- the kind that's intended for wet locations and is UV
> resistant: "UF-B" ??
>
> But Romex uses solid conductors, whereas all the stuff that is sold as
> being for rotator use (e.g., the various Belden cables with conductors
> of two different sizes) is stranded and therefore more flexible. Why
> specify a flexible cable when nothing below the rotator should be moving
> around and requiring flexibility?
>
> I'd thought of using the stuff they sell for low-voltage outdoor
> lighting systems. It's available with stranded conductors of various
> different gages and is claimed to be UV resistant, but has only two
> conductors, so I'd need two separate runs. Anybody see anything wrong
> with this?
>
> Alan NV8A
> _______________________________________________
>
> 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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