[TowerTalk] Do I need an insulator on the ends of my dipole?

[W0MU Mike Fatchett]

This brings back a memory of the day in ST. Kitts.  VP2KBU and V47A V47M 
V47K.  We were using nylon rope to hold up our 80 and 160 dipoles.  
Every night the swr would become very high and we would go out and tie 
them back up again.  We were right next to the ocean and the wet salt 
air made short work or any insulating properties of the rope.  We 
finally put real insulators on the ends and never had the issue again.  
Lesson learned.  Here in dry dry dry Colorado you might be able to get 
away without insulators for a while but insulators are a dollar? Just 
buy them or make some out of PVC etc.

W0MU

On 6/26/2020 12:24 PM, Paul Christensen wrote:
> I should have linked to it in my last message.  Model HQ-2.
>
> https://budwigmoldedproducts.com/antenna-connector-and-insulators/
>
> Paul, W9AC
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Christensen <w9ac at arrl.net>
> Sent: Friday, June 26, 2020 2:23 PM
> To: 'towertalk at contesting.com' <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] Do I need an insulator on the ends of my dipole?
>
> The Nylon rope is an insulator until gets wet, collects, decays and collects
> more stuff with UV exposure, etc.  Assuming your fan dipole is a half-wave
> on all bands -- and it should be, keep in mind that RF voltage is maximum at
> each end.
>
> I would consider the common dark green Budwig insulators that have a decent
> ribbed dirt path.  They're stealthy enough.
>
> Paul, W9AC
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Kevin
> Zembower via TowerTalk
> Sent: Friday, June 26, 2020 2:07 PM
> To: TowerTalk at contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Do I need an insulator on the ends of my dipole?
>
> Hello,
>
> I'm replacing my 40/20/10M fan dipole with an even more stealthy one, using
> small gauge insulated stranded copper-clad steel. The suspension goes from a
> post in my back yard, to a mast on the peak of my roof, to a tree in the
> front of the yard. At both ends, there's at least 10 feet of nylon cord.
>
> Currently, there's a ceramic insulator at each end of the dipole, between
> the dipole wire and the nylon cord. Do I need any kind of insulator? Isn't
> the nylon cord an insulator? I can work out the mechanical stress with
> thimble eyes. Why do I need an insulator?
>
> I only run 100W maximum with my system max.
>
> Thanks for your advice and guidance.
>
> -Kevin
> KC3KZ
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