Just acquired a couple reels of electric-fence wire from someone who got
smart and got rid of her horses. Question: is this wire (seems to be
aluminum) useful for antenna applications?

--
"Anyone who likes sausage and respects the law should not watch either
being made."-- Otto von Bismarck --

On 9/17/2011 1:51 PM, Padraigh ProAmerica wrote:
Just acquired a couple reels of electric-fence wire from someone who got
smart and got rid of her horses. Question: is this wire (seems to be
aluminum) useful for antenna applications?


Sure. Especially if it is aluminum. Watch for corrosion.

John KD5YI

(Padraigh ProAmerica) wrote in news:5332-4E74EC45-1080
@storefull-3172.bay.webtv.net:

Just acquired a couple reels of electric-fence wire from someone who got
smart and got rid of her horses. Question: is this wire (seems to be
aluminum) useful for antenna applications?


Lots of things are sold as "electric fence wire" in this part of the world.

One of them is a 2.7mm diameter aluminium wire with a HT steel core. The
aluminium is sufficiently thick that it is a ver good antenna wire, it is
strong and has effective RF resistance not much higher than copper.

On the other hand, we can buy HT steel wire with a flash of Zal (Zinc-
Aluminium) plating coated then with polyeurathane. Makes an appalling
conductor for low HF.

You will need to take the effort to better describe your own wire to get a
worthwhile opinion.

Owen

It's solid and uncoated- no core. Looks like aluminum (I've worked with
stainless steel wire and this wire ain't steel). Quite flexible. And the
price was right.

--
"Anyone who likes sausage and respects the law should not watch either
being made."-- Otto von Bismarck --

I would think that if it's strong enough to hold up it's own weight
(plus a little more) then it should certainly be usable for an
antenna. Making connections to aluminum isn't exactly easy at times,
but can certainly be done. I've used the coated-steel type electric
fence wire, the hardest part about using it was the mechanical
aspects. It loves to kink. The best antenna wire is whatever you
happen to have enough of at the time, right??
- 'Doc

On Sat, 17 Sep 2011 20:35:34 +0000, Owen Duffy wrote:

(Padraigh ProAmerica) wrote in news:5332-4E74EC45-1080
@storefull-3172.bay.webtv.net:

Just acquired a couple reels of electric-fence wire from someone who
got smart and got rid of her horses. Question: is this wire (seems to
be aluminum) useful for antenna applications?


Lots of things are sold as "electric fence wire" in this part of the
world.

One of them is a 2.7mm diameter aluminium wire with a HT steel core. The
aluminium is sufficiently thick that it is a ver good antenna wire, it
is strong and has effective RF resistance not much higher than copper.

On the other hand, we can buy HT steel wire with a flash of Zal (Zinc-
Aluminium) plating coated then with polyeurathane. Makes an appalling
conductor for low HF.

You will need to take the effort to better describe your own wire to get
a worthwhile opinion.

Owen

"Appalling conductor"? How so? In radio school they tell us a wet piece
of rope can be used in an emergency; where does that land on the
"appalling" scale?

On Sat, 17 Sep 2011 22:16:42 -0700, 'Doc wrote:

I would think that if it's strong enough to hold up it's own weight
(plus a little more) then it should certainly be usable for an antenna.
Making connections to aluminum isn't exactly easy at times, but can
certainly be done. I've used the coated-steel type electric fence wire,
the hardest part about using it was the mechanical aspects. It loves to
kink. The best antenna wire is whatever you happen to have enough of at
the time, right??
- 'Doc

They sell aluminum grounding blocks at the hardware store, basically
aluminum bars with screw threads every half inch or so. These are cheap
and easily broken into usable splicing blocks, using a hammer and a vise.

I use these for mid-air splices on my loops, and for the radial system
for my verticals. Again, remove the screws, break as needed (remember
Cinch Jones barrier strips?), good DX!

http://www.homedepot.com/Electrical-...-Load-Centers-
Accessories/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbm0y/R-100173659/h_d2/ProductDisplay?
langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

On 9/17/2011 11:51 AM, Padraigh ProAmerica wrote:
Just acquired a couple reels of electric-fence wire from someone who got
smart and got rid of her horses. Question: is this wire (seems to be
aluminum) useful for antenna applications?

I have lots of electric fence wire that is aluminum. I like it because
it's easy to handle.

However, I have never tried it for antenna wire. It is quite soft and
stretches a lot. I suspect it would be fine for a 40 meter dipole, but
for anything lower in frequency it might continue to stretch under it's
own weight, plus a center insulator, balun and coax weight.

Try a length suspended at 5-6 foot and then add some weight in the
middle to simulate the coax and other stuff and measure the sag to
ground over a week or so time period.

Paul, KD7HB

Missed this whn I first read it.

Seems a polyurethane coating would render the wire useless in an
electric fence use.

--
"Anyone who likes sausage and respects the law should not watch either
being made."-- Otto von Bismarck --

Hi Paul,

Paul Drahn wrote in news:j54vrb$gaq$1@dont-
email.me:

....
I have lots of electric fence wire that is aluminum. I like it because
it's easy to handle.

However, I have never tried it for antenna wire. It is quite soft and
stretches a lot. I suspect it would be fine for a 40 meter dipole, but
for anything lower in frequency it might continue to stretch under it's
own weight, plus a center insulator, balun and coax weight.

That is an issue for annealed copper which is probably the most popular
conductor amongst hams, especially in small diameters.

One of the things that happens is that as the copper yields (stretches), it
work hardens, increasing its tensile strength. So, if the forces are not
too high, it might yeild a little, become a little thinner, a little
longer, a little stronger and survive (for now).

At some point, the increase in tensile strength of the copper does not
offset the reduction in cross section area and the stretch continues with
lower tension until it breaks.

Soft aluminium wire would not seem to comply with the NEC clauses for
antennas, though they are apparently widely ignored.

I collaborated on an antenna project where Gallagher XL HT steel cored 30%
aluminium clad wire (2.7mm overall) was chosen for long spans in a place
subject to high winds, snow and ice. It was well suited to the task, RF
conductivity similar to 2mm HDC IIRC, and much stronger.

Owen