On thought Rik/Warren if this is "drop wire" (intended for telephone
distribution) it should not need reinforcing but it may not be pure
aluminium. "Copper" drop wire in the UK is 5 strands steel and 2 of copper,
I believe (I was not involved in lines :-))  )

Alan
G3NYK
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rik Strobbe" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2011 10:57 AM
Subject: LF: RE: Al as a Loop Conductor ?


Hi Warren,

aluminium has a higher resistivity (28x10^-9 Ohmmeter) than copper (17x10^-9
Ohmmeter) but it has a larger skin depth (Al = 260 um, Cu = 210 um at
100kHz).
That makes an Al wire only 33% worse than a Cu wire of the same diameter.
Regarding mechanical strength it might be a good idea to inforce this by a
steel wire support.

73, Rik  ON7YD - OR7T

________________________________________
Van: [email protected] [[email protected]]
namens Warren Ziegler [[email protected]]
Verzonden: zaterdag 5 november 2011 1:30
Aan: rsgb_lf_group
Onderwerp: LF: Al as a Loop Conductor ?

Hi,
    I am considering using Aluminum service drop wire (3/0 gauge) as a
conductor for an LF transmitting loop. I know that the conductivity is
not as good as copper but it weighs so much less that I can use a
larger diameter conductor.
Has anyone tried this? How would it hold up when flexed by the wind ?
Other thoughts?
--
73 Warren K2ORS
                WD2XGJ
                WD2XSH/23
                WE2XEB/2
                WE2XGR/1