[Heathkit] SBA-104-1 and another Question

[Donald Spoon]

I got a few coyotes, skunks, armadillos, and neighborhood dogs that 
could be used...  If PETA doesn't find out about it!
Hrmm... maybe it is time to get the KW going! <grin>

-Don Spoon-
K0APK

On 12/23/2010 12:31 PM, Duane Fischer, W8DBF wrote:
> PVC = Poly Vinyl Cloride. It is supposed to be non-conductive. I guess 
> that one could always resort to the time tested scientific method of 
> putting ones moist tongue on the surface of the non-conductive object. 
> If ones eyes light up like the old Saturn 5B rocket engines, it is 
> definitely conductive! However, since the shock of the pure excitment 
> from this scientific experiment is very likely to terminate your life, 
> I personally would get a neighbor who had drunk a six pack already to 
> volunteer for said test! (LOL!)
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Donald Spoon" <drspoon at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "Heathkit" <heathkit at mailman.qth.net>
> Cc: <ka4inm at tampabay.rr.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2010 4:31 PM
> Subject: Re: [Heathkit] SBA-104-1 and another Question
>
>
>> Just how "conductive" is the plastic PVC conduit?  My son-in-law, who is
>> an Electrician, says they use it all the time for underground power runs
>> where it provides a good water seal and never rusts or weathers like the
>> metal conduit.   This feature attracted my interest.   I have seen
>> articles using it for winding baluns and also for use as antenna
>> insulators.  It seems to me to be a pretty good insulator at HF
>> freqs...  Dunno for sure though.  Back in the 1970s when I knew much
>> more than I do now (I knew it all then), there were several warnings
>> about using PVC around RF, and I seem to recall a test or two showing it
>> would absorb RF at VHF and/or UHF, i.e. it was "lossey" as demonstrated
>> by putting it into a microwave to heat it up for forming.
>>
>> -Don Spoon-
>> K0APK
>>
>