[Lowfer] Small Loop Making Ideas

[Peter Barick]

LF Gents,

I am now using a small 7-foot multi-turn outdoors loop. This one includes some new construction that may be helpful to others.

Like many other LF'rs I use and like PVC pipe in all its sizes. Here it's used at the ends of each of the 6 arms. A short 4-inch piece is drilled as a force fit across each arm. A small 1/8 in. piece of a pvc coupler is cut off and is glued at each end piece end. This keeps windings from slipping off during the winding process. Especially important if winding by one's self -- "hold them windings" ! I've come up with this after problems with falling windings with the last loop.

The arms were found at the Farm and Fleet store, they're 3/8In X  4Ft fiberglass fence posts. These were trimmed for size but could be part of a larger 8Ft loop. They have a chamfered tip, that is pointed outward where the end piece slips over and grips the chamfer in a smaller ending hole, gripping it. This method is self-locking, no screws or glue needed.

The F-G poles are afixed to a center piece of 3/4In plywood well sealed. No drilling of the poles as small strips (2) of sheet metal were formed around each arm and 7 inches apart and these are screwed into the centerboard. I used small no. 4 screws that I had.

The centerboard attaches to a specially cut 5Ft 2X4. It's bottom is cut and trimmed to fit into the main support PVC tube. I used a 1 1/2In pipe. This piece is cut to accept a PVC coupling piece which then serves as a bearing for a "slip ring" made from scrap 3/4 plywood that's drilled for guying lines, 3 used here. They connect to 18In earth screws via synthetic rope.

Finally, I used 20 turns of no. 20 wire (almost 2MH inductance). The windings are space adjusted, say 1/16In gap and RTV compound is worked onto each end piece to get good adherence to the piece.

The antennal is set out from the house on its 6FT mount. I'm working on the tuning box, a discarded telephone service box that will hold a torride and switch-activated caps for tuning.

Ha, the read proof of all this is surviving the winter's storms come spring.

-- Pete


>>> John Andrews <w1tag at w1tag.com> 10/31/08 10:25 AM >>>
Peter,

Here's the article that Mike originally referenced:

http://www.500kc.com/WA1ZMS/index.htm

JA

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