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#1
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Dipole-2 different wire sizes?
I have a dipole with 134 feet of 20 gauge insulated copper wire. What would happen if I wanted to replace one leg (67 feet) with 18 gauge copper clad insulated steel wire but chose to keep the other leg with the 20 gauge wire?
Tks, Joel |
#2
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May stay up longer, not much better performance, and have a slight different tuning.
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#3
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Dipole-2 different wire sizes?
"Joel365" wrote in message ... I have a dipole with 134 feet of 20 gauge insulated copper wire. What would happen if I wanted to replace one leg (67 feet) with 18 gauge copper clad insulated steel wire but chose to keep the other leg with the 20 gauge wire? Tks, Joel You probably would not notice anything on 80 meters. It is possiable that the wire not being insulated and a differant size will cause a slight shift in the resonate frequency, but I doubt that you will notice it. It is sort of like having a truck load of bricks. If you add one more brick, there is an effect, just too slight to make any differance. Unless someone told you the brick was added, you would not notice it. |
#4
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Dipole-2 different wire sizes?
"Joel365" wrote in message ... I have a dipole with 134 feet of 20 gauge insulated copper wire. What would happen if I wanted to replace one leg (67 feet) with 18 gauge copper clad insulated steel wire but chose to keep the other leg with the 20 gauge wire? Hi Interesting question. As the others I don't think anything useful will happen. In such cases it is convenient to put the things to their limits. Imagine the diameter of one half is infinite. You now have a quarter wave over a ground plane.A well known case. Impedance is halved . Resonnance is only dependant of the remaining wire and unchanged. Your result should be somewhere between no change and that. Another similar question : Instead of burying lots of radials at the base of a vertical what about digging (or using) a well and having a quarter wave of wire dropped into it ? --- Posted via news://freenews.netfront.net/ - Complaints to --- |
#5
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Dipole-2 different wire sizes?
On Mon, 2 Jul 2012 14:54:38 +0000, Joel365 wrote:
I have a dipole with 134 feet of 20 gauge insulated copper wire. What would happen if I wanted to replace one leg (67 feet) with 18 gauge copper clad insulated steel wire but chose to keep the other leg with the 20 gauge wire? Hair will grow in the palm of your hand. |
#6
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Quote:
Although the electrons travels on the outside ( skin ) of the wire, the core still plays a part in the equasion because the resistance changes with the materials. |
#7
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Dipole-2 different wire sizes?
On Jul 2, 10:54*am, Joel365 wrote:
I have a dipole with 134 feet of 20 gauge insulated copper wire. *What would happen if I wanted to replace one leg (67 feet) with 18 gauge copper clad insulated steel wire but chose to keep the other leg with the 20 gauge wire? Tks, Joel -- Joel365 Shouldn't make a differance. |
#8
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Dipole-2 different wire sizes?
On Mon, 2 Jul 2012 14:54:38 +0000, Joel365
wrote: I have a dipole with 134 feet of 20 gauge insulated copper wire. What would happen if I wanted to replace one leg (67 feet) with 18 gauge copper clad insulated steel wire but chose to keep the other leg with the 20 gauge wire? No effect. The bandwidth of the antenna is determined by the diameter of the conductor. The wider the conductor, the greater the bandwidth. The difference between 18 and 20AWG is negligible and has no effect. However, 18AWG copper wire is not going to support itself for very long. Copper is soft and breaks easily. The weight of the center balun, plus the coax weight, plus any birds that might roost on the wire, are going to break it. Please consider using heavier gauge wire, copperweld, or at least support the center balun. As I vaguely recall, NEC (National Electrical Code) Section 810 suggests 14AWG minimum for antennas. I'm too lazy to find the chapter and verse. My favorite antenna wire is stainless steel fishing line. Very strong and doesn't rust. The problem is that as soon as I buy a roll, one of the local hams invents an antenna project that consumes the entire roll. http://www.alltackle.com/american_fishing_wire_stainless_steel_trolling_wir e.htm -- # Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060 # 831-336-2558 # http://802.11junk.com # http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS |
#9
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Dipole-2 different wire sizes?
On 7/2/2012 3:08 PM, Allodoxaphobia wrote:
On Mon, 2 Jul 2012 14:54:38 +0000, Joel365 wrote: I have a dipole with 134 feet of 20 gauge insulated copper wire. What would happen if I wanted to replace one leg (67 feet) with 18 gauge copper clad insulated steel wire but chose to keep the other leg with the 20 gauge wire? Hair will grow in the palm of your hand. I'm 70. Hair grows everywhere on me. My barber charges $5 just for an estimate. |
#10
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Dipole-2 different wire sizes?
On 7/2/2012 10:59 PM, John S wrote:
On 7/2/2012 3:08 PM, Allodoxaphobia wrote: On Mon, 2 Jul 2012 14:54:38 +0000, Joel365 wrote: I have a dipole with 134 feet of 20 gauge insulated copper wire. What would happen if I wanted to replace one leg (67 feet) with 18 gauge copper clad insulated steel wire but chose to keep the other leg with the 20 gauge wire? Hair will grow in the palm of your hand. I'm 70. Hair grows everywhere on me. My barber charges $5 just for an estimate. EXCEPT my head! |
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