UV Resistant Insulated Wire for G5RV ?
 

I thinking of homebrewing a G5RV and the way it will have to run
across my property between two trees it's going to touch some small
branches and/or some leaves. I can buy inuslated wire at Home Depot or
Lowes but a friend mentioned it wasn't UV protected and the insulation
would eventually falll off. How about enameled wire ? Maybe there's
another wire type etc I haven't thought of ?

Thanks in advance

73 Gary K8IQ

Gary, I had a multi-band dipole antenna (4 dipoles off one feedline) up
for over 20 years and it was made from #14 AWG electrical wire right off
the spool that my electrician neighbor had on his truck. There was no
uv protection and the covering was still on the wire when I took it down.

Butch KF5DE




Gary wrote:

I thinking of homebrewing a G5RV and the way it will have to run
across my property between two trees it's going to touch some small
branches and/or some leaves. I can buy inuslated wire at Home Depot or
Lowes but a friend mentioned it wasn't UV protected and the insulation
would eventually falll off. How about enameled wire ? Maybe there's
another wire type etc I haven't thought of ?

Thanks in advance

73 Gary K8IQ

He was correct Gary, it will fall off, just not in your lifetime.

"Gary" wrote in message
...
I thinking of homebrewing a G5RV and the way it will have to run
across my property between two trees it's going to touch some small
branches and/or some leaves. I can buy inuslated wire at Home Depot or
Lowes but a friend mentioned it wasn't UV protected and the insulation
would eventually falll off. How about enameled wire ? Maybe there's
another wire type etc I haven't thought of ?

Thanks in advance

73 Gary K8IQ

On Wed, 20 Apr 2005 14:34:04 -0400, Gary wrote:

I thinking of homebrewing a G5RV and the way it will have to run
across my property between two trees it's going to touch some small
branches and/or some leaves. I can buy inuslated wire at Home Depot or
Lowes but a friend mentioned it wasn't UV protected and the insulation
would eventually falll off. How about enameled wire ? Maybe there's
another wire type etc I haven't thought of ?

Thanks in advance

73 Gary K8IQ

I've seen insulation fall off 70-year-old AC power cords, but never
off antenna wire. My Lowe's wire has nylon insulation -- looks and
feels sturdy even after exposure to the elements -- The Wireman sells
wire with UV-resistant PVC insulation, but I wouldn't buy it just for
that.

bob
k5qwg

Gary,
Depending on the type of wire/insulation you use, the
insulation can certainly come off. Forgot the name of it
but it usually has a color coat then a clear insulation.
The clear insulation does come off, looks like a snake
shedding it's skin. The color insulation (under the clear
stuff) hasn't come off yet, but it's only been up about
10 years. The antenna does run through trees and I'm sure
some of the insulation has rubbed off. It doesn't seem to
affect things, so I don't really care...
'Doc

"'Doc" wrote in message
...
Gary,
Depending on the type of wire/insulation you use, the
insulation can certainly come off. Forgot the name of it
but it usually has a color coat then a clear insulation.
The clear insulation does come off, looks like a snake
shedding it's skin. The color insulation (under the clear
stuff) hasn't come off yet, but it's only been up about
10 years. The antenna does run through trees and I'm sure
some of the insulation has rubbed off. It doesn't seem to
affect things, so I don't really care...
'Doc

Hi Doc
That clear coating is nylon, and I think what you're talking about is wire
rated as "THHN".
The nylon makes it easier to pull through conduit, and gives some additional
mechanical protection.
You're right - the nylon part does flake off a a bit after some time in the
sun, but the pvc underneath it stays on pretty good.
If you have some 'romex' (or type NM) cable (like 14-2wg) - you have
something different you can work with.
If you strip off the outer jacket of the romex (nm cable) you'll have 3
separate solid (not stranded) wires inside - two are insulated (one black
and the other white) - and one bare wire (the ground).
The black and white wire from this romex does not have the nylon
coating - and so will not flake off. This romex usually comes in 250-ft
coils at Lowe's and such places. The THHN wire (which is very usable, by the
way) usually comes in 500-ft spools - and is available is stranded and solid
conductors, in a variety of colors.

If one can find someone from a nearby railroad, (or a crew
removeing Railroad Signal lines), it is possible to get
Insulated Wire for antennas for Free, or little cost, as
the Railroads signals are going to Point-Multi-point
radio control. Two caviats: 1) the stuff is hell for
stout (#9, or GREATER), and 2), is Copperweld. But,
if you can obtain it (and the scrap value is such, that the
railroads either gave it away, or sold it for the value
of the poles that support it), the only way it will come
down is when your support structure fails! And, yes,
the old "Code Line" wires (at least on the old S.P. lines)
was insulated- some over 40 years old, and you cant get the
insulation off, without burning the wire in a fire!
Have also obtained it in derailments in the past- and
stout enuff to tow a trailer with ! as info, Jim

Hal Rosser wrote:
"'Doc" wrote in message
...

Gary,
Depending on the type of wire/insulation you use, the
insulation can certainly come off.

On Wed, 20 Apr 2005 14:34:04 -0400, Gary wrote:

I thinking of homebrewing a G5RV and the way it will have to run
across my property between two trees it's going to touch some small
branches and/or some leaves. I can buy inuslated wire at Home Depot or
Lowes but a friend mentioned it wasn't UV protected and the insulation
would eventually falll off. How about enameled wire ? Maybe there's
another wire type etc I haven't thought of ?

Thanks in advance

73 Gary K8IQ


I have used the THHN wire for nearly 27 years. I have had no
problems. The outer clear plastic layer breaks up but does not affect
the antenna that I can notice. The colored plastic has never had a
problem. I have never left one up over a couple of years, but it has
always been good when I took them down.

Buck
N4PGW

--
73 for now
Buck
N4PGW

On Thu, 21 Apr 2005 13:10:54 -0400, Buck wrote:

On Wed, 20 Apr 2005 14:34:04 -0400, Gary wrote:

I thinking of homebrewing a G5RV and the way it will have to run
across my property between two trees it's going to touch some small
branches and/or some leaves. I can buy inuslated wire at Home Depot or
Lowes but a friend mentioned it wasn't UV protected and the insulation
would eventually falll off. How about enameled wire ? Maybe there's
another wire type etc I haven't thought of ?

Thanks in advance

73 Gary K8IQ


I have used the THHN wire for nearly 27 years. I have had no
problems. The outer clear plastic layer breaks up but does not affect
the antenna that I can notice. The colored plastic has never had a
problem. I have never left one up over a couple of years, but it has
always been good when I took them down.

Buck
N4PGW

Thanks to all who answered. I'll just pick up some regular insulated
wire at Lowes or Home Depot then :)

73 Gary K8IQ