[TowerTalk] stranded copperweld wire - reports please

[Robert Shohet]

HI Con,

Yes,  a PE jacket will help with the stranded NOT rusting but only up to a
point.

Over a period of a few years, the PE jacket become less "fresh" and more
brittle.  The jacket eventually develops microbreaks from the action of the
sun, weather, any tree or other abrasion, flexing in the wind, etc.

Water gets in through these microbreaks and begins the rusting process long
before you can see it.  With microbreaks as opposed to actual cuts, you
can't even know that the wire is rusting inside until one day it just
breaks.  The PE jacket cuts down on the rain static and slows the eventual
resulting process but that is all it does.  There is no cure for the
problems of time, weather and abrasion.

As someone who once had ALL wire antennas from beverages to wire yagis and 4
squares, the PE jacket is nice but it is still high maintenance!

Solid wire is harder to work with and it stretches more but for certain
applications it definitely is the way to go.  For other applications I still
prefer stranded even though it is a nuisance to diagnose and replace.
BTW, there is a LOT of water that wicks up and down through the microbreaks
so one TINY little hole in the PE jacket and you can get a fully rusted 3'
length of stranded wire that can break anywhere!

73
Bob KQ2M




----- Original Message -----
From: "Barry " <w2up at mindspring.com>
To: <corneliuspaul at gmx.net>; <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2003 3:07 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] stranded copperweld wire - reports please


> Hi Con,
> What I uses was not insulated. I guess that's how they solved the
> problem, unless water wicks inside from the exposed end?
> GL,
> Barry W2UP
>
> On 20 Dec 2003 corneliuspaul at gmx.net wrote:
>
> > Hi Barry,
> >
> >
> > OK - thanks for the hint!
> > Anyway, it looks like the stuff you used was NOT insulated, true?
> >
> > The wire wire I am talking about is insulated with a PE jacket,
> > so that would prevent it from rusting I guess...
> >
> > Any other comments still very appreciated, tnx
> >
> > 73
> > Con DF4SA
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > At 18:45 20.12.2003 +0000, you wrote:
> > >Avoid stranded copperweld!
> > >
> > >A number of years ago, I built a bunch of lowband wires using this
> > >stuff (purchased from Wireman).  Within 2-3 years it all broke.  What
> > > happens is the strands rub against each other as it sways in the
> > >wind, abrades the copper off, exposing the steel core, then it rusts
> > >and breaks.  Never again!
> > >
> > >Yes, solid copperweld is tough to work with, but I've never had it
> > >fail. 73, Barry W2UP
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> > 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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>
> --
> Barry Kutner, W2UP              Internet: w2up at mindspring.com
> Newtown, PA                     Frankford Radio Club
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> 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.
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
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> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk