[TowerTalk] Wire

[Jim Brown]

On 3/11/2021 3:15 PM, Dave Sublette wrote:
> So I am considering just cutting new dipoles fromTHHN, probably #14.  

Hi Dave,

Other than that failed experiment with FlexWeave when I got back on the 
air in 2003, I've never used anything but THHN for wire antennas. For 
low-stress applications (not very high, no tall trees involved), Our 
dipoles for FD, that get strung between ad hoc skyhooks or to ropes 
launched into low trees are all #14 THHN solid. I've been happy with 
#14; for my high dipoles suspended between very tall redwoods and fed 
with 150 ft or more of RG11, I've settled on #8 bare copper, stretched 
so that it approximates "hard drawn" and about #9. I've done this 
because even #10 stranded or solid stretches under tension, so I had to 
lower the dipoles every few years to snip a few feed off the ends.

#14 solid should be just fine for your application. Just be prepared to 
tweak length every few years. :)

73, Jim K9YC