Return-Path: Received: (qmail 70729 invoked from network); 23 Dec 2003 20:37:10 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO ptb-mxscan02.plus.net) (212.159.14.236) by ptb-mailstore01.plus.net with SMTP; 23 Dec 2003 20:37:10 -0000 Received: (qmail 10324 invoked from network); 23 Dec 2003 20:37:09 -0000 X-Filtered-by: Plusnet (hmail v1.01) X-Spam-detection-level: 11 Received: from ptb-mxcore02.plus.net (212.159.14.216) by ptb-mxscan02.plus.net with SMTP; 23 Dec 2003 20:37:08 -0000 Received: from post.thorcom.com ([193.82.116.20]) by ptb-mxcore02.plus.net with esmtp (Exim) id 1AYtHA-0002Zf-Mf for dave@picks.force9.co.uk; Tue, 23 Dec 2003 20:37:08 +0000 X-Fake-Domain: majordom Received: from majordom by post.thorcom.com with local (Exim 4.14) id 1AYtGg-0001wF-Lj for rs_out@blacksheep.org; Tue, 23 Dec 2003 20:36:38 +0000 Received: from [194.73.73.81] (helo=tungsten.btinternet.com) by post.thorcom.com with esmtp (Exim 4.14) id 1AYtGf-0001w6-WC for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Tue, 23 Dec 2003 20:36:38 +0000 Received: from [213.122.6.13] (helo=Main) by tungsten.btinternet.com with smtp (Exim 3.22 #25) id 1AYtGf-0005wi-00 for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Tue, 23 Dec 2003 20:36:37 +0000 X-Bad-Message-ID: no DNS (Main) Message-ID: <000101c3c994$9e8895c0$6507a8c0@Main> From: "Alan Melia" To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org References: Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2003 20:15:41 -0000 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4522.1200 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1106 Subject: LF: Re: insulators Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 2.60 (1.212-2003-09-23-exp) on post.thorcom.com X-Spam-Status: No, hits=0.0 required=5.0 tests=none autolearn=no version=2.60 X-SA-Exim-Scanned: Yes Sender: Precedence: bulk Reply-To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org X-Listname: rsgb_lf_group X-SA-Exim-Rcpt-To: rs_out@blacksheep.org X-SA-Exim-Scanned: No; SAEximRunCond expanded to false X-PN-SPAMFiltered: yes X-Spam-Rating: 2 Hi Eric I am not sure about dacron.....but it might not be the conduction through the water laden "rope" it might be that you have a corona problem. At that power level its like playing a small flame on the support structure, then once there is a bit of carbonisation its all "downhill". Do you have circular "corona rings" at every wire end and sharp bend?? I think this will help a lot. The guys here have used all sorts of plastic off-cuts for insulators....down to old tooth brush handles (!!) at 600W or so. Any plastic can carbonise but its a lot lighter than pyrex or ceramic Cheers de ALan G3NYK alan.melia@btinternet.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eric KD5UWL" To: Sent: 23 December 2003 17:48 Subject: LF: insulators > The new XFX flattop is coming together. Where the flattop wires connect > to the aluminum spreaders I need some insulators. With lower power I've > used electric fence insulators, but I'm afraid that won't be enough here. > I've considered using these insulators anyway, attaching the flattop wires > to the insulators, and then the insulators to the spreaders using some > kind of fiber (dacron, etc), but I'm afraid that when this gets wet I'll > be in trouble. > > What about using monofilament at this point? Seems like I once read > someone having success using heavy weedeater line, saying that it doesn't > hold water like some kind of rope would. > > Has anyone tried this? How does it stand up to the sun? Any better > suggestions? > > 73 > Eric > >