[TowerTalk] Wire size

[GALE STEWARD]

Nate,
It's a waste of money to go to 4/0.  Also probably a
lot harder to install.  The ground return currents
couple to the radials and the current divides by the
number of wires.  Therefore, each radial does not
carry a large amount of current.  Also, the maximum
current in each radial is near the feedpoint and
diminishes the farther out you go.  I'd use the #16. 
I've used #16 and smaller in my radial system.

73, Stew  K3ND


--- "N. S. FIRESTONE" <w3svj@juno.com> wrote:
> 
> Is there any theoretical or, more importantly,
> practical difference in
> the performance of a vertical antenna using "skinny"
> buried radials.
> If I planned to use ten radials of #16 bare copper
> and then decided to go
> with 4/0 bare copper instead of the #16, was the
> money difference well
> spent?
> Ignoring the chemical/mechanical survivability of
> the heavier wire would
> the RF care? 
> 
> 73 de Nate, W3SVJ, in Pittsburgh where it's not so
> smokey anymore.
> 
>
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