I used 14 ga THHN (stranded, insulated) with black insulation. It worked.
I would think 14 ga copperweld (copper-clad steel) would be ideal, but THHN
was easily available at the local builder supply - and cheaper.
Maybe the small guage wire you used contributed to its demise - 14 ga
version of what you were using would be my first pick.
Stranded wire is more flexible than solid, but that attribute may be moot
once the antenna is in place.

"Lee Carkenord" wrote in message
om...
My old delta loop on 20M SSB finally quit. Actually, it was destroyed
in a hailstorm. It was made of 18 gauge solid Copperweld, and stayed
up in the Denver smog for many years.

This equilateral antenna was mounted vertically, with apex up, fed in
middle of base.

It was a real good antenna, and I'm going to put up a replacement,
with same basic parameters.

In terms of strength, longevity, fatigue resistance, and resistance to
stretching which would be better, 12 to 16 gauge solid copper, or
12-16 gauge stranded copper?

Insulated or non-insulated?

If I use insulated 12-16 gauge copper, how much should I shorten the
overall length, expressed as a percentage, as compared to the bare 18
gauge Copperweld I had up before the storm? I will want this antenna
cut for same freq (14.225 Mhz) as the previous one.

Thank you...... Lee Carkenord KA0FPJ


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