[PVRCNC] Radials for 80m Vertical

[J A Ritter]

RE:

Just starting to plan a low-band vertical project.  Planning on 48 65 ft.
radials for an 80M vertical.  That's a little over 3,000 ft. of wire needed.
14 ga. copper wire from Home Depot runs about $45 for 500 ft., or about $270
for the project.  Haven't found a significantly cheaper source so far.
Considered dog fence wire at $70/1,000 ft. plus shipping - a little cheaper,
but only 18 ga. (realize that doesn't matter electrically, but more likely
to break over time - I guess). So, now comes the question - any reason why I
couldn't use uninsulated aluminum wire?  Tractor Supply sells a 1/4 mile
(1300+ ft.) spool of bare 14 ga. for $42.  Electrically, would the
conductivity of aluminum vs. copper make a difference?  Would corrosion be
an issue?  What I could find very quickly on line about corrosion rates for
buried metals makes me think not.  Does anyone have any relevant experience?
Thanks Tom K3AJ 

 

Tom:

Why go to the expense and bother of burying or laying out 48 sixty-five foot
radials?  Consider putting up a K2AV 80 Meter Folded Counterpoise that is
only 16 feet per side? Visit:  http://www.w0uce.net/K2AVantennas.html
<http://www.w0uce.net/K2AVantennas.html%20%09>       for information.

 

You can construct your own Isolation transformer or order one from Balun
Designs.   

 

73,

Jack