Topband: Aluminum radials?

[Kenneth D. Grimm, K4XL]

Thanks to all of you who commented on my question about aluminum radials. 

A number of respondents suggested that aluminum electric fence wire 
wouldn't make good radial wire since it will quickly deteriorate.  I'm 
sure that in a salt or acidic environment, it would disappear long 
before copper.  However, I'm just laying the wires on top of the ground, 
so that shouldn't be too big of a problem.  One suggested that aluminum 
wire wouldn't work as well as copper because of increased resistance.  
All but one of my antennas are made of aluminum, so I'm not going to let 
that worry me.  One said it wasn't strong enough.  The stuff I'm looking 
at has a 90 lb breaking load, which isn't great, but stronger, in fact, 
than the small gauge copper that I've been using.

A slightly larger number indicated that they were using the wire with no 
noticeable deterioration or other problems.  One indicated that aluminum 
radials buried in 3" of pine needle duff looked just as good after three 
years as they did when first put down. 

I had radials made from the galvanized steel electric fence wire rust in 
two in three years, so I'm thinking that I'll try a few dozen made from 
the aluminum fence wire this winter.  At $15 per 1/4 mile (at Lowes) it 
won't break the bank.  Since the connections will be aluminum to 
aluminum, I'll use Noalox and clamp them rather than attempting to braze 
them.

Thanks again for all the comments...both pro and con....you've given me 
food for thought and I appreciate it.  Considering my age, the aluminum 
radials will probably out-last me.  If not, I promise to report on their 
demise here on the reflector.

73,

Ken - K4XL

Pete Ferrand wrote:
> -----Original Message-----
>   
>> From: "Kenneth D. Grimm, K4XL" <grimm at sbc.edu>
>>     
>
>   
>> Anyone else using the aluminum 
>> stuff?  I've seen it in 1/2 mile rolls 
>>     
>
> Hi Ken, I made a vee beam out of electric fence aluminum wire, about 400 feet of wire in the air, and put about 500 feet in the ground. It's been up for four years in the trees without a failure. What I've seen in the ground is in fine shape and I replaced a support rope a month ago and it still looks perfect. 
>
> Contrary to what some were predicting, it does not craze, become brittle, etc. After all it was made to have cows and horses walking into it.
>
> Naturally YMMV depending on pollution, ground chemistry, and who know what but it works fb here. It's amazing how much easier it is to handle due to the lighter weight. You can get aluminum brazing rod with the Bernz-O-Matic name on it at Home Depot to make connections, or use AL/CU connectors from the electrical department.
>
> Thanks for your efforts with BAMA, a real help to so many of us!
>
> -Pete
> WB2QLL
> Somers, WI
>
>   
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-- 
Ken K4XL
k4xl at arrl.net

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