[TowerTalk] Choice of Antenna Wire for Multi-Element 80 Meter Yagi on a Catenary

[john at kk9a.com]

I have always wanted to try hard drawn copper wire, I personally wound not
go smaller than 14 AWG.  I have had good luck with inexpensive 14 awg THHN
in Aruba, copperweld did not do well in the corrosive environment and it
also did not like being adjusted from CW to SSB on 80m.

John KK9A


Richard Smith N6KT

Hello TowerTalkers,
The team at PJ4K is planning to put up a 4-element wire yagi on 80 Meters
with Inverted-Vee type elements. It will be supported by a rope catenary
between two towers, at about 100' off the ground. In choosing the wire for
the elements, there is a trade-off between strength and weight of the wire.
Currently, I'm looking at Hard-Drawn copper wire as the wire choice, but I
don't have experience with it. Are there any concerns about the use of HD
copper wire, such as tendency for kinks, or other mechanical concerns?

I'm considering #14, #16, and #18 HD copper wire for the elements. I figured
out the approximate weights of wire for a 4 element 80 meter yagi:

4 elements of  #14   copper wire weighs  about  6.2 lbs   Breaking strength
is 213 lbs                 

4 elements of  #16  copper wire weighs  about  3.9 lbs   Breaking strength
is 135 lbs                 

4 elements of  #18   copper wire weighs  about  2.5 lbs   Breaking strength
is 85 lbs                 

I'm thinking that it's not just the dead weight of the wire to consider, but
also the fact that lighter wire will require less tension to pull out the
ends of the elements, to achieve about a 120 degree angle for the
Inverted-Vee elements.                      
I'm interested in suggestions, especially from those who have tried similar
antennas.
TNX and 73, Rich, N6KT