[TowerTalk] PVC and UV

[Ford Peterson]

Pete Smith wrote:

"Ford -- as you may know, Force 12 uses light gray PVC insulators in all
their antennas.  They suggest that in areas with intense direct sunlight or
reflected sunlight (off snowpack, for example), it would be smart to wrap
the insulators in black vinyl electrical tape. "

The gray type PVC is (according to my electrician) UV stable.  I use it on
the electrical service entrance at the QTH.  However, the "Kaufman" antenna
is using it to couple long lengths of aluminum pipe together to form a 90
foot vertical!  The PVC is the common schedule 40 water pipe--white in
color.  It is designed to be supported every few feet along its length.
Using it in such a high stress environment really bothers me.  From the
pictures, the guys appear to be attached to bolts through single thicknesses
of schedule 40 pipe.

I use 3/4" stuff for piping water around in my wife's gardens.  Several
lengths became brittle and broke after a couple of years of laying on the
ground.  They still held water but when I dragged them around, they broke--I
could take pieces and snap them with my bare hands.  It actually starts to
yellow a bit, which is a result of the UV.

Tape is in order.  UV resistant paint would be ideal -- black preferred.
Black is a natural UV resistant color.  Perhaps paint and tape?

73s

Ford-N0FP
ford@cmgate.com






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