I am going to build an inverted V for 80 and 40 meters. I will be
running
about 700 watts into it. What gauge wire should I use and should it
be
stranded or solid core for best performance and power handling?

=================================

Use whatever wire gauge will support its own weight. For 1 Kwatt,
anywhere from 18 awg to 12 awg will do fine.

The RF loss in the wire is very slightly greater with the thinner
gauges, but not enough to be noticeable. In terms of signal strength
it is in terms of hundredths of a decibel.

I prefer solid core, ordinary magnet wire. The enamel covering is a
protection against attack from atmospheric polution. Wires last for
years and years in the British average sort of climate.

The so-called "stretch" in annealed, enamelled, copper wires is not
worth the trouble of mentioning. Just give the wire a good tug during
erection, you will feel it give an inch or so, and unless there's a
double hurricane it will remain the same length for ever afterwards.
----
Reg, G4FGQ

Reg Edwards wrote:
The so-called "stretch" in annealed, enamelled, copper wires is not
worth the trouble of mentioning.

Especially true for ladder-line users. :-)
--
73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp

----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

Years and years ago, they used to make a heavy copper plated steel ant
wire, anyone remember it? It was great, took years of abuse, snow, ice
and high winds at a cabin of mine in the high sierras (11,500 ft
elevation) and, like a timex watch, kept on ticking...

Warmest regards,
John
"Cecil Moore" wrote in message
...
Reg Edwards wrote:
The so-called "stretch" in annealed, enamelled, copper wires is not
worth the trouble of mentioning.

Especially true for ladder-line users. :-)
--
73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp

----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet
News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption
=----

On Mon, 30 May 2005 10:19:30 -0700, "John Smith"
wrote:

Copperweld(r), which is copper-clad steel wire (CCS), is still made
and sold by companies that sell "antenna" wire, the Wireman, Davis RF,
Radio Works and others...

The copper wire I get at Lowe's on 500 foot rolls is probably
different, but works fine.

bob
k5qwg



Years and years ago, they used to make a heavy copper plated steel ant
wire, anyone remember it? It was great, took years of abuse, snow, ice
and high winds at a cabin of mine in the high sierras (11,500 ft
elevation) and, like a timex watch, kept on ticking...

Warmest regards,
John

"John Smith" wrote in message
news
Years and years ago, they used to make a heavy copper plated steel ant
wire, anyone remember it? It was great, took years of abuse, snow, ice
and high winds at a cabin of mine in the high sierras (11,500 ft
elevation) and, like a timex watch, kept on ticking...

Years ago (like about 2 yrs) and even today (like now)
Copperweld makes it.
I have some 300-ohm transmission line made from copperweld conductors.
Look into the belden catalog and anywhere you
see the "Copperweld" trademark uses copper-coated steel.

Hal:

Good to know they still produce a good product...
I have given up the finer wire here, strung very long ants using steel
fencing wire (like used in regards to chain link fence--or even large
dia stainless steel wire from welders outlets in rolls--but EXPENSIVE!)
run through 1/4"+ copper tubing these days--get all of at Lowe's or Home
Depot... something about pumping big watts into a thin wire which just
"itchs" my eccentricities... frown

Copper tubing can be had for scrap prices at a large recycling/metal
scrapping yard near you... sometimes a guy is even lucky enough to find
the steel wire to run through it for a few cents a pound!

In fact, many good aluminum/copper/stainless flats, rods, tubing, etc
can be found for antenna projects... yellow pages should provide anyone
with a source...

Warmest regards,
John

"Hal Rosser" wrote in message
. ..

"John Smith" wrote in message
news
Years and years ago, they used to make a heavy copper plated steel
ant
wire, anyone remember it? It was great, took years of abuse, snow,
ice
and high winds at a cabin of mine in the high sierras (11,500 ft
elevation) and, like a timex watch, kept on ticking...

Years ago (like about 2 yrs) and even today (like now)
Copperweld makes it.
I have some 300-ohm transmission line made from copperweld conductors.
Look into the belden catalog and anywhere you
see the "Copperweld" trademark uses copper-coated steel.

In fact, many good aluminum/copper/stainless flats, rods, tubing, etc
can be found for antenna projects... yellow pages should provide anyone
with a source...

Warmest regards,
John

One should be careful when using aluminum conductors for antennas.
ACSR (Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced)
may be a better choice for tensile strength.
but Aluminum oxide is an insulator. and it forms easily at the connections.
But I have made some good antennas out of Aluminum Arrows
I even left the fletching (feathers) on for a couple of antennas. :-)

Hal:

I never thought about the aluminum shafts of arrows!!! The expensive
ones are a titanium alloy--if I remember correctly... Make one tough
antenna...

I have been lucky enough to get some titanium rod (or alloyed aluminum)
before--at a scrappers, you sure can tell it when you attack it with a
hacksaw, this was tempered, apparently, and had the properties of spring
steel...

You are right, that anti-corrode stuff (gel/grease whatever that stuff
is) is good to use on aluminum connections... I am in California--away
from the coast--corrosion is not a very great problem here... but still
every 5 years or so you do have to clean connections and redress...

Warmest regards,
John

"Hal Rosser" wrote in message
.. .

In fact, many good aluminum/copper/stainless flats, rods, tubing, etc
can be found for antenna projects... yellow pages should provide
anyone
with a source...

Warmest regards,
John

One should be careful when using aluminum conductors for antennas.
ACSR (Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced)
may be a better choice for tensile strength.
but Aluminum oxide is an insulator. and it forms easily at the
connections.
But I have made some good antennas out of Aluminum Arrows
I even left the fletching (feathers) on for a couple of antennas. :-)