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

[Patrick Greenlee]

I suspect that there is a good chance that folks who report being able 
to highly tension aluminum wire are using aluminum coated steel wire 
such as is used for electric fences. It works fine and lasts a long time 
in antenna service.

Patrick         NJ5G

On 9/17/2015 10:02 AM, dw wrote:
> Thanks Ken,
> I didn't realize the aluminum stuff would stretch.
> They have it at lowes for electric fence wire, so I was assuming the
> stretching would be pretty much identical to steel wire.
> I can use steel wire and braze connectors onto it.
> Maybe that would be a safer bet that aluminum.
> Do they make a copper coated electric fence wire?
> I do have copperweld type wire for building wire antennas, but wasn't
> sure I would use it for this project.
> Don't think I have enough to do both sides.
> So I thought electric fence wire would be quick and easy.
> Duane
>
>
> On Thu, Sep 17, 2015, at 04:50 AM, Ken wrote:
>> 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.
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