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1-10 of 18 messages
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End Insolators Where to Buy Locally?
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by K9BAY on October 31, 2009
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Does any national home improvement or electronics store carry the procelain End Insulators? I can find them online, but would like to work on my antenna today. I have tried Radio Shack and Fry's Electronics with no luck. I have also looked at Maynards Home Improvement store with no luck either.
Locally we have Lowes, Home Depot, Maynards, Ace Hardware, Sears, Fry's Electronics, Radio Shack, etc.
Any good suggestions for a substitute built from "Ready Available" parts like PVC.
Thanks!
K9BAY
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RE: End Insolators Where to Buy Locally?
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by W6VPS on October 31, 2009
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What wrong with a 3.5 inch section of schedule 40
PVC. drill holes through the piec 1.4" from each end....bingo instant insulator. If you decide tyo keep it up in the air a coat of paint on the outside will fight the effects of UV rays and make the insulator last longer.
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RE: End Insolators Where to Buy Locally?
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by VK1OD on October 31, 2009
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In this part of the world, most agricultural stores sell them... used by electric fencing.
You can get the cheaper, lighter, unbreakable PE ones, or glazed porcelain which are better for more permanent installations if you won't drop them on hard surfaces (eg concrete, rock, steel etc)
Owen
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RE: End Insolators Where to Buy Locally?
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by K9PU on November 1, 2009
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Not sure where you are.
Farm and Fleet sells egg shaped slotted plastic insulators for electric fence applications. I have used them to 100 Watts on my 40 Meter antenna. They are a bit difficult to use, they melt with solder temperatures and wires can slip out. I have since replaced them with the standard ceramic insulators, no melting, no wires slipping out.
I have also used pvc pipe for potable water applications, just cut to suitable size. They melt though and get brittle over time with exposure to the sun.
I have taken to stocking antenna insulators, typically I have three extra in my antenna wire box.
Scott
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RE: End Insolators Where to Buy Locally?
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by KB4QAA on November 1, 2009
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If you need something right now, cut up a milk carton, or a soda bottle they are nearly indestructable and may last as long as ceramic. Break the neck off a glass soda bottle. Drill holes through the handle of picnic plastic flatware.
Good luck
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RE: End Insolators Where to Buy Locally?
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by W8JI on November 1, 2009
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Just go to a farm supply store like Tractor Supply Company and buy insulators for terminating or corners of electric fences.
They have a large black plastic egg insulator, that unlike milk or soda bottles, is UV protected and not designed to break down over time.
I've never had problems with wires slipping or solder melting those insulators and I use dozens of them including on a 160 dipole made from number 10 wire that has been up for ten years.
They are on every one of my dipoles suspended from these towers:
http://www.w8ji.com/images/towers/Rohn%2065G/Web%20ready%20tower%20pix/220%
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RE: End Insolators Where to Buy Locally?
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by W8JI on November 1, 2009
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Here's the link to one of the best insulators I've found.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/fencing/electric-fencing/electric-fence-insulators/large-corner-insulator-pack-of-10-3602209
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RE: End Insolators Where to Buy Locally?
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by N4CQR on November 1, 2009
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Seems like asking where to buy gasoline.. But anyway,
I looked up you call and it said Fishers Indiana
I done a Google search for: farm supply+46038
There are a number of farm supply stores around you. Grab the phone and make a few calls.
Good luck..
C r a i g
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RE: End Insolators Where to Buy Locally?
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by W5DXP on November 1, 2009
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Here's a picture of some I got at Lowe's in the electric fence section. If this one ever breaks, the antenna doesn't come crashing down.
http://www.w5dxp.com/insulatr.JPG
--
73, Cecil, w5dxp.com
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RE: End Insolators Where to Buy Locally?
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by WB6BYU on November 1, 2009
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I also have a large stock of electric fence insulators
for wire antennas. I like the plastic "egg" types since
most of my antennas use light, flexible wire, but I
recently found a whole box of the ceramic ones on closeout
sale at the local farm supply that I am keeping in reserve.
They make some that are like plastic carabiners
that can be opened up to add or remove wires, that are
very useful for portable antennas were versatility
is important.
Or you can make your own. I've made a lot of center and
end insulators for dipoles out of scraps of white PVC
lattice, but just about any sort of plastic will work
in a pinch: broken patio chairs, scraps of polycarbonate
or plexiglass, plastic pipe, etc. Old timer used to
use the tops from beer bottles for end insulators:
there was a standard technique to remove them from the
bottles using string.
On the other hand, if you are using 20' of synthetic
rope to tie off the end of your antenna, what difference
will and additional two inches of plastic make to what
you have already? Most of my antennas don't use
explicit end insulators. I tie a loop in the end of
the wire (or you can twist a loop if you are using
solid wire) and tie the rope to it. I've never had
any problems at 100 watts with this arrangement (as
long as I've used synthetic rope), but I wouldn't
recommend it for a shortened antenna at full legal power.
But it will allow you to carry out your experiments
without having to make a trip out to get insulators.
Perhaps there is an unstated issue here as well: it
sounds like you are following the traditional drawings
of how to solder the end of your antenna wire to an
insulator. That looks great, but it really can be a
pain if you have to adjust the antenna length. My
suggestion would be to simply twist the wire onto the
insulator first while you are experimenting. If you
have to shorten the wire, it is an easy matter to undo
it, slip the insulator further up the wire, and twist
it back. (If you need to lengthen the wire, just add
another piece of wire hanging down.) My approach is
to start with the wire a bit long and tie the insulator
a couple feet back from the end: that gives me some
length hanging down that I can trim to adjust the
antenna without having to retie the insulator.
You can solder the joint once the antenna is trimmed.
Remember that any joint should be mechanically secure
before you solder it - the solder just provides a
reliable electrical connection.
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