On 8/2/2011 4:42 PM, Tom Horne wrote:
On 8/1/2011 20:42, Jim Lux wrote:
On 7/31/2011 2:02 PM, Owen Duffy wrote:


PS: hams universally ignore the guidance of NFPA 70 which makes
recommendation on conductors for antennas.

Are you saying the electrical code is sort of like the pirate code? more
guidelines than actual requirements?

I think the way that hams can rationalize it is that most wire antennas
(particularly those made with fine wire) are, by their nature,
"temporary installations". The finer the wire, the more temporary.

The National Electric Code limits the use of Temporary installations to
power and lighting conductors.

"ARTICLE 527 Temporary Installations
527.1 Scope.
The provisions of this article apply to temporary electrical power and
lighting installations." Copyright 2002 the National Fire Protection
Association.

--
Tom Horne, W3TDH


I was thinking more of local codes or enforcement. After all, the local
"Authority Having Jurisdiction" (AHJ in code-speak) can and does
override the NEC all the time.

There are also a whole lot of other "installations of a temporary
nature" in the code: check out the sections about theatrical and motion
picture filming. They allow substantially higher currents for a given
size wire, on the not unreasonable basis that they're being operated
under the (hopefully) continuous supervision of qualified personnel.