[TowerTalk] 500' #14 solid THHN, $15 @ Lowe's

[Bill Coleman]

On Apr 7, 2004, at 6:42 PM, Bill Turner wrote:

> If it is like my wire, after about 2-3 years in the sun the outer
> transparent cover will peel off like a snake shedding its skin, leaving
> the black insulation underneath.

Yes, the outer layer of THHN wire is not UV resistant. It will crack, 
peel and flake off spectacularly in 1-3 years, depending on your UV 
exposure.

> Mine has only been up about four years
> total but the black underneath seems to be holding up ok.  The peeling
> outer layer doesn't seem to cause any problem other than looking a bit
> odd until it's completely gone.  White wire behaves the same way.

I have also used black wire, and it has been up since 1996 as dipole. 
I've also used a gray wire, which was up for over 7 years at another 
QTH. Both are in excellent shape.

Stranded THHN wire is a wire-antenna bargain. It will stretch under 
tension, but is otherwise excellent.


Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901