[Lowfer] LF Vert Top Hat

[Peter Barick]

>>> eric@willow.nutstreet.net 02/23/03 01:18PM >>>

Eric on tophat details:
>I did come up with a better idea, I think, for the tophat.  I Have
> about 200' of copperweld and I considered using a few feet of
> that at the top end of the mast as downleads to the guy ropes.
> That, I had thought, could serve as radials.

Hi Eric,
The above seems too much effort for little gain. As mentioned, using
down-sloping, guy-line wire is  questionable, if not counter productive,
if brought too near the vertical element. I know it's tempting, but
there are more proven ways, as some of the recent pics offered here have
shown - I like that of BRO's.

The main point to a top hat is to increase the capacity to the
reflected "image," though not to the radiating element. Given: To make
that capacity takes a metal conductor, metal usually connotes heaviness,
something to avoid when erecting a vert, as you seem to have proven of
late. So let's think Aluminum, it's BOTH metal and light weight.
Consider what's available locally for material. Homestores and
farmstores offer aluminum tubing for the do-it-yourself-ers. Al
clothesline wire also may be found. To start, only a few connected turns
about the ends of 5 or 6 8-feet-by-1/2 in. Al  pipes should yield a
light and effective tophat. The Al wire can be replaced w/ small Cu
wire, though large enough to withstand the wx and ant. raising. Note,
keep all wire in the hat inner connected.

Another idea for hat radial spreaders is the 1/2 in. pvc pipes  (chose
a length you can work with) or I have seen plastic, notched fence poles
at the local farmstore. These were thin and non-flexible. If used, wire
could be wrapped around each out to the perimeter wires.

Above all, keep it light so it doesn't impede raising the thing on
whatever vertical pole one uses.

Peter