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

[Kevin Zembower]

Thank you all for the suggestions and advice. I never thought it would 
generate so many and such wide ranging responses.

I'll probably go with insulators on the ends of the wire dipole, but 
probably don't need the fins and larger size of the Budwig. I'm thinking 
of just a narrow, thin piece of plexiglass or Lexan, with holes drilled 
in the ends, or a piece of plastic rod, like are often used to adjust 
Venetian blinds. Or, I thought of just 6-12 inches of thicker, 100 lb. 
test monofilament nylon fishing line, tied to a thimble in the wire and 
the other end to the rope. Even when wet, I don't think that would have 
much conductance.

Thanks, again, for all your help.

-Kevin
KC3KZ

On 6/26/20 2:07 PM, Kevin Zembower wrote:
> 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