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Re: [TowerTalk] Do I need an insulator on the ends of my dipole?

To: Kevin Zembower <kzembower@verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Do I need an insulator on the ends of my dipole?
From: Ken WA8JXM <wa8jxm@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2020 19:58:56 -0400
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Cut pieces of plastic clothes hangers and drill holes in the ends for
cheap, lightweight, hard to see, insulators.  That's what I use for
homemade open wire feedline spacers.

Ken WA8JXM

On Tue, Jun 30, 2020 at 2:44 PM Kevin Zembower via TowerTalk <
towertalk@contesting.com> wrote:

> Thank you all for the suggestions and advice. I never thought it would
> generate so many and such wide ranging responses.
>
> I'll probably go with insulators on the ends of the wire dipole, but
> probably don't need the fins and larger size of the Budwig. I'm thinking
> of just a narrow, thin piece of plexiglass or Lexan, with holes drilled
> in the ends, or a piece of plastic rod, like are often used to adjust
> Venetian blinds. Or, I thought of just 6-12 inches of thicker, 100 lb.
> test monofilament nylon fishing line, tied to a thimble in the wire and
> the other end to the rope. Even when wet, I don't think that would have
> much conductance.
>
> Thanks, again, for all your help.
>
> -Kevin
> KC3KZ
>
> On 6/26/20 2:07 PM, Kevin Zembower wrote:
> > 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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