[Lowfer] Small Loop Making Ideas

[Zack Widup]

I don't think of a 7-foot loop as "small" unless I'm comparing it to my 
40-meter full-wave loop which is ~12 feet horizontal dimension and ~58 
feet vertical.

I made a loop on a PVC "X" with 7-foot arms (actual loop 5 ft square) a 
year ago.  I used 1.25 inch PVC pipes, I think.  I used a "T" at each end 
with extender pipes out of the "T" for the windings.  I actually drilled 
holes thru the PVC to hold the wires.  Took me a whole day to thread wire 
for 20 turns through that thing! But the wires aren't going anywhere.

I can take some photos if anyone is interested.

73, Zack W9SZ

On Thu, 6 Nov 2008, Mike WE0H wrote:

> Pictures please???? hi hi...
>
> Mike
> WE0H
>
>
> Peter Barick wrote:
>> 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
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