[elecraft] ANTENNAE LINE THROUGH WALL INTALLATION

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

It may sound like overkill to drill at a downward angle toward the outside
in most installations, but it's an excellent idea in addition to a good drip
loop, especially for frame houses that have walls made of wood and other
organic materials. Even a small amount of moisture from snow building up
right on the fitting where it exits the wall or the small amount of rain
that will contact it directly can seep inside and start dry rot and other
problems. 

Here in the northwest mold is a real concern. It's not just a nuisance, but
a life-threatening concern that has killed people, especially children, who
are unlucky enough to breath the air containing the spores. A couple of
years ago a builder left some tiny gaps in wood siding on a new home that
allowed moisture to seep in. Deadly black mold to started growing. Once
started it spread drawing moisture from the air. By the time it was
discovered because the family was suffering health problems, a new, 1.5
million dollar home had to be totally demolished and much of it disposed of
as toxic waste, complete with the crews working in bunny suits inside a tent
loading the remains of the house into sealed bags.

When you're running open wire feeders or a single end-fed wire, good
electrical insulation is important too unless the power is very low. Heyes,
in his book "Practical Wire Antennas" tells a story about visiting a fellow
Ham in England who used an end-fed wire that came into the shack through a
small hole drilled in the wood frame of a window. On one band a voltage loop
occurred at that point. Whenever the guy transmitted, smoke would curl up
out of the hole where the wire touched the wood. Heyes observed that he was
not aware that the Fire Brigade ever had to visit, but it didn't seem like a
good way to get the RF outside <G>. 

Ron AC7AC 



-----Original Message-----
I did much the same, with one added feature. I didn't trust the drip loops
and 
driving West Texas rains, (when we do finally get rain), so I made the drill

through at a slight downward angle to the outside. I know, after you seal
it, it 
shouldn't matter. I used some DAP I had from a bathroom project for the
seal, 
easily removable, (the landlord allowed a 2nd antenna later). Guess it was
like 
chicken soup, made me feel better. :-)
-- 
GB & 73's
KA5OAI
Sam Morgan