FW: [Elecraft] RF build up

[Bill_Harris]

As you well know Ron,  that heating method works great on any closed loop antenna.  I still have my old 304t_  filament transformer around for such occasions.  It's good for 5 vac. @ 100 amps.  Does a good job on conductive pipes that may freeze up which is normally not a problem here in Western Washington.

Carry-on
K2Bill#973


> Lo' these all-too-many-winters ago there were actual reports of Hams using
> folded dipoles with open wire line in heavy ice/snow regions. As y'all
> probably know, a folded dipole has a direct current continuity across the
> feeders, since it's essentially a dipole with an extra wire running parallel
> to the dipole radiator and connected at each end. 
> 
> If a dangerously heavy ice coating appeared, they'd connect the feeders to a
> variable power source and allow enough current to flow to heat the wires and
> melt the ice. Took a while, but it beat trying to splice and raise the
> antenna again in mid-winter. 
> 
> Being a "California Boy" in those days - Southern California at that - I
> never really had any need to test the idea first-hand. While others were
> snowed and iced-in up to their end-insulators, we were praying for a few
> drops of rain before the dry season resumed in the spring. 
> 
> Ron AC7AC
> 
> 
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