[TowerTalk] Has anyone every put up a V-beam?

[Ken]

Patrick,

Okay.  You just said aluminum fence wire. I've used that for fencing and 
it stretches pretty bad.  Steel core, aluminum coated would be different 
although myself I would go with copper coated (copperweld type).

73,
Ken WA8JXM

On 9/17/15 7:15 AM, Patrick Greenlee wrote:
> Aluminum coated steel wire is commonly used for electric fences. 
> Although proper practice is to install it with low tension (as per 
> vendor and MFG) that is not because of any failing in the wire's 
> strength or resilience. It can take significant tension and last a 
> good long time.  One issue is the skin effect.  Your lowest frequency 
> of interest will penetrate into the wire to the greatest depth. You 
> will get better performance if your skin depth does not exceed the 
> thickness of the aluminum outer layer.  I cant quote the formula for 
> skin depth from memory but it is readily available.
>
> There has been a lot of this aluminum coated steel wire used for 
> antennas with good success.
>
> Patrick        NJ5G
>
> On 9/17/2015 5:46 AM, Ken wrote:
>> Aluminum fence wire stretches easily under load.   It needs to be 
>> supported every ten feet or so, not ideal for long wire antennas.  I 
>> won't even use it for electric fences ;-)
>>
>> Ken WA8JXM
>>
>> On 9/15/15 3:45 PM, dw wrote:
>>> I think I'll pick up some aluminum fence wire at Lowes tonight on the
>>> way home from work.