Re: Topband: Capacity Hat Wire Size
Sorry it seems the link I posted got broken. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=440029073004475&set=pcb.745473342286 826&type=3&theater&ifg=1 73 Adrian VK2WF -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Adrian Van Der Byl Sent: Thursday, 4 January 2018 9:44 AM To: 'Mike DeChristopher'; topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: Capacity Hat Wire Size I have to agree with Mike, physical strength is important. I am on an exposed ridge where the winds are quite strong. I use stainless steel wire rope as part of the top hat supported with 19mm dia al tubing spokes. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=440029073004475&set=pcb.745473342286 826&type=3&theater&ifg=1 Adrian VK2WF -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Mike DeChristopher Sent: Thursday, 4 January 2018 6:28 AM To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: Capacity Hat Wire Size Bruce, I used to resonate my tower on 80m with 22 ga wire in two directions. Never a problem with power handling at 1.5kW; I probably would have used bigger stuff if I had any in the garage at the time. Like others here, I think the real issue is that these wires will become de facto guy wires, and so physical strength becomes relevant. 73, Mike N1TA On Tue, Jan 2, 2018 at 10:31 AM, Bruce Osterberg wrote: > Good Morning:\ > > To improve my 160 vertical I want to change its configuration from an > inverted L to a Capacity Hat Vertical. Vertical will be 57 Feet high > with Capacity Hat wires. I am using an 18 Meter Spider pole. I plan > on running > 1.5 KW to it. Looking at spider pole website it says 18 Gage wire for > the Vertical part and 26 Gage wire for the capacity Hat. But it says > nothing about the power handling capacity of these wires, (both > vertical and horizontal). I know the spider pole is a bit flimsy at > the 55 foot level so a smaller wire is needed but I am sure someone on > this reflector has the answers I need. > > Bruce N9BX 73 > > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Capacity Hat Wire Size
I have to agree with Mike, physical strength is important. I am on an exposed ridge where the winds are quite strong. I use stainless steel wire rope as part of the top hat supported with 19mm dia al tubing spokes. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=440029073004475&set=pcb.745473342286 826&type=3&theater&ifg=1 Adrian VK2WF -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Mike DeChristopher Sent: Thursday, 4 January 2018 6:28 AM To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: Capacity Hat Wire Size Bruce, I used to resonate my tower on 80m with 22 ga wire in two directions. Never a problem with power handling at 1.5kW; I probably would have used bigger stuff if I had any in the garage at the time. Like others here, I think the real issue is that these wires will become de facto guy wires, and so physical strength becomes relevant. 73, Mike N1TA On Tue, Jan 2, 2018 at 10:31 AM, Bruce Osterberg wrote: > Good Morning:\ > > To improve my 160 vertical I want to change its configuration from an > inverted L to a Capacity Hat Vertical. Vertical will be 57 Feet high > with Capacity Hat wires. I am using an 18 Meter Spider pole. I plan > on running > 1.5 KW to it. Looking at spider pole website it says 18 Gage wire for > the Vertical part and 26 Gage wire for the capacity Hat. But it says > nothing about the power handling capacity of these wires, (both > vertical and horizontal). I know the spider pole is a bit flimsy at > the 55 foot level so a smaller wire is needed but I am sure someone on > this reflector has the answers I need. > > Bruce N9BX 73 > > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Capacity Hat Wire Size
Bruce, I used to resonate my tower on 80m with 22 ga wire in two directions. Never a problem with power handling at 1.5kW; I probably would have used bigger stuff if I had any in the garage at the time. Like others here, I think the real issue is that these wires will become de facto guy wires, and so physical strength becomes relevant. 73, Mike N1TA On Tue, Jan 2, 2018 at 10:31 AM, Bruce Osterberg wrote: > Good Morning:\ > > To improve my 160 vertical I want to change its configuration from an > inverted L to a Capacity Hat Vertical. Vertical will be 57 Feet high with > Capacity Hat wires. I am using an 18 Meter Spider pole. I plan on running > 1.5 KW to it. Looking at spider pole website it says 18 Gage wire for the > Vertical part and 26 Gage wire for the capacity Hat. But it says nothing > about the power handling capacity of these wires, (both vertical and > horizontal). I know the spider pole is a bit flimsy at the 55 foot level so > a smaller wire is needed but I am sure someone on this reflector has the > answers I need. > > Bruce N9BX 73 > > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Capacity Hat Wire Size
In my station for the past several years I have run a top loaded vertical of similar dimension to what you propose. A Spider pole is something I would only use in a portable application, not a permanent home station antenna. My antenna uses telescopic aluminium tubing tapering from about 65 mm to 25 mm and is around 19 m in length. I originally used six top loading wires of around 6 m each of Flexweave wire. This turned out to be too heavy and unwieldy and made the antenna unstable, especially when erecting it. I changed the top hat to three wires of about 9 m each using medium duty hookup wire (14x0.32, 1.13 sq mm). Now what I did, I think is rather ingenious if I may say so, in that I used 4 mm poly rope to guy the top (and three levels below) and wove the top loading wire into the top guy rope, so that the rope did the supporting as a guy, and also carried the top loading wire. This has the advantage of holding up the top loading wires, which are terminated in a lug onto a small stainless bolt at the top of the aluminium, and also does not seem to attract the cockies with their bolt-cutter beaks. The wire is light, and does not cause excessive sag. I secure the top guys out about 20 m from the centre. This has survived some decent storms, and bird attack. Current at the top of the antenna should not be an issue. The main concerns would be mechanical. When I have used a Spider pole on DXpedition, medium duty hookup wire as described above seems ok, even to the feed point, but I've only used a low duty cycle mode like CW. 73, Luke VK3HJ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Capacity Hat Wire Size
Bruce, and George is always loud where ever he goes Don N1DG At 07:19 PM 1/2/2018, GEORGE WALLNER wrote: Bruce, I often use an 18 m Spiderpole with two loading wires, sloping out from the tip at about 60 degrees. I use 18 gauge insulated wires and run 1500 W. I have not seen any signs of overheating. Current is less through the top part of the antenna so wire diameter is less critical (but the voltages can be very high at the wire ends!). I would, however, use thicker wire on the vertical part of the antenna (AWG 12 or larger). Alternatively, use three or four parallel wires on the vertical section (tied together both at the bottom and top). Space them out around the pole. You can see a 43 foot version (being tested for the upcoming KH1 expedition) at C6AGU, on QRZ.com. I have ran 1000 W on that antenna without issues. 73, George On Tue, 2 Jan 2018 09:31:48 -0600 Bruce Osterberg wrote: > Good Morning:\ > > To improve my 160 vertical ... 26 Gage >wire for the capacity Hat. > > Bruce N9BX 73 > > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - >http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband N1DG--Licensed since 1962 www.goldtel.net EX-WB2DND, A61AD (GUEST OP, QSL MGR), A52DG, C92DG, /KH4, /KH9, /BV, /VP8O, /VS6, /4X, /9V Webmaster: VP8O, K4M, BS7H, K5K, A52A, VK0IR, 9M0C, ZK1XXP, WB2DND/KH9, BQ9P, ZL9CI QSL Manager: A61AD, A61AO, A61X, A61AQ, KH7Z Member: NCDXF, CWops, ARRL, DDXA, YCCC 2006 Inductee into the CQ DX Hall of Fame Treasurer, NCDXF DON GREENBAUM , DUXBURY, MA, USA _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Capacity Hat Wire Size
Bruce, I often use an 18 m Spiderpole with two loading wires, sloping out from the tip at about 60 degrees. I use 18 gauge insulated wires and run 1500 W. I have not seen any signs of overheating. Current is less through the top part of the antenna so wire diameter is less critical (but the voltages can be very high at the wire ends!). I would, however, use thicker wire on the vertical part of the antenna (AWG 12 or larger). Alternatively, use three or four parallel wires on the vertical section (tied together both at the bottom and top). Space them out around the pole. You can see a 43 foot version (being tested for the upcoming KH1 expedition) at C6AGU, on QRZ.com. I have ran 1000 W on that antenna without issues. 73, George On Tue, 2 Jan 2018 09:31:48 -0600 Bruce Osterberg wrote: Good Morning:\ To improve my 160 vertical ... 26 Gage wire for the capacity Hat. Bruce N9BX 73 _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Capacity Hat Wire Size
Hello Bruce, I have a 72 ft irrigation pipe vertical for 160m. It is much stronger that your Spider pole. I use 16 ga wire for my 4 top hat wires. I'm not sure how many top hat wires you have in mind, but with 4 wires, they also act as guy wires at the top. If you use 4 wires, the current would be divided equally, so I'm sure you can get by with small gauge wire, perhaps 22 ga, although that seems small to me. If the Spider pole is too flimsy for larger wire, you may have to guy it more often. The top hat wires need be as horizontal as possible, but on flat land, mine are pulled away from the vertical as far possible which is about 100 ft in each direction for me. You can only do what you can, but it will work! HNY & GL, Ray, N6VR PS, I see that the A70X operation is on 160m. For a rare IOTA, and to work the world, that is the last band they should be on. But I guess the guys are having fun... On Tue, Jan 2, 2018 at 8:31 AM, Bruce Osterberg wrote: > Good Morning:\ > > To improve my 160 vertical I want to change its configuration from an > inverted L to a Capacity Hat Vertical. Vertical will be 57 Feet high with > Capacity Hat wires. I am using an 18 Meter Spider pole. I plan on running > 1.5 KW to it. Looking at spider pole website it says 18 Gage wire for the > Vertical part and 26 Gage wire for the capacity Hat. But it says nothing > about the power handling capacity of these wires, (both vertical and > horizontal). I know the spider pole is a bit flimsy at the 55 foot level > so a smaller wire is needed but I am sure someone on this reflector has the > answers I need. > > Bruce N9BX 73 > > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband -- Ray, N6VR _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: Capacity Hat Wire Size
Good Morning:\ To improve my 160 vertical I want to change its configuration from an inverted L to a Capacity Hat Vertical. Vertical will be 57 Feet high with Capacity Hat wires. I am using an 18 Meter Spider pole. I plan on running 1.5 KW to it. Looking at spider pole website it says 18 Gage wire for the Vertical part and 26 Gage wire for the capacity Hat. But it says nothing about the power handling capacity of these wires, (both vertical and horizontal). I know the spider pole is a bit flimsy at the 55 foot level so a smaller wire is needed but I am sure someone on this reflector has the answers I need. Bruce N9BX 73 _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
