[TowerTalk] 80M antenna wire size

[tony.kaz at verizon.net]

Jim,
Tnx for the input. On a sunny day the shiny copper really stands out even
after all these years. I had bought a bucket (around 80 lbs) of enameled
copper from a transformer company years ago.
The 5 radials at each feedpoint are 57'. I tie them together through a coil
to the coax shield. I tap the coil with a relay so I can easily switch the
minimum dumped power at 3525 and 3750. Shortening the 1/4 wave radials to
57' sure improved the pattern. Much better F/B and F/S since I did that. 
This could be a nice winter project.
73,
N2TK, Tony

-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Jim Brown
Sent: Thursday, January 2, 2020 11:19 PM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] 80M antenna wire size

Teflon insulated wire, especially the silver-coated stranded copper I've
found on the internet to wind chokes, is VERY nice stuff. And it's
expensive.

Sometimes it can be quite worthwhile to make antennas less visible, and
reduced weight can be an advantage in some situations, but those are the
only good reason I can think for doing that way. There are times I've
suggested enameled wire for low visibility. As noted, insulation will lower
the resonance slightly, and although larger conductor diameters can increase
SWR bandwidth, that's hardly a critical factor, it's likely to be too little
to notice for the relatively small change from #14 to #20.

73, Jim K9YC

On 1/2/2020 5:54 PM, Tony Brock-Fisher via TowerTalk wrote:
> My question - if I replaced the solid #14 wire with black Teflon 
> coated #20 stranded tinned copper wire am I giving up anything in 
> performance? I would think the Teflon wire would hold up okay?
> 
> Note that using insulated wire instead of bare wire will add some 
> capacitive loading, and the elements will resonate at a lower 
> frequency for the same length.
> 
> I built a triband quad using teflon insulated #18 silver plated 
> stranded copper wire. It did come out lower in frequency. Other than 
> that it has held up fairly well.
> 
> -Tony, K1KP
> 
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