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#12 ground wire

R

radioboy

Hey all,

I've been busy rebuilding the studios for my part 15 and am working on the
Rangemaster site now.

Today our local Lowe's and Home Depot do not have any #12 ground wire in stock.
Guess I can special order it, but before I do, thought I'd check in to see if there are
any sources I might have overlooked.

Thanks for your help.

Alan
 
Hi Alan,

Though I do not know what you are going to use #12 ground wire for, I will mention that larger bare copper wire (smaller numbers such as 10, 8, etc.) will work.

If you are grounding a mast or antenna check your local codes for the required wire size.

If #12 bare is what you need, you could get a spool of #12 insulated and remove the insulation. This is not too hard to do with a box cutter knife.

Neil
 
I sell that grounding wire Neil..........if you need ground radials cut to your length, email me at [email protected]
They will arrive bare, and wound into small coils: easy to spread and attach.
Carl
 
Thanks Carl. Perhaps this will help Alan. It wasn't clear to me what he needs the wire for, but you have provided a source.

Neil
 
Thank you, Neil and Carl...

Carl:
I've saved the information you emailed to me about the ground radials..will contact you off the board when
I'm ready for that. Had to change sites from the original plans so am building a "temporary site" FOR NOW.
(long story)..but will be using one of your ground radio systems for the permanent installation.

Neil:
The #12 ground wire is for grounding the Rangemaster. Florida lightning is rough on stations here, even the
commercial ones get knocked off the air a lot. My parents are in Miami and are bringing me back a spool
from Home Depot there.

I like the spool idea..I always seem to have some kind of project going on, so nothing's ever wasted!

Thanks for the replies.
 
Just let me know how many radials you want Alan, and the length...(important) and I'll build it for you.
They arrive spooled up so that the system fits in a small box and is easy to roll out into trenches (that need be only 1/2" deep; very important)!
Let me know.
Carl
 
I have an antenna question:

I'm thinking of building a stealth antenna using 18 or 24 gauge shielded copper wire. I also have a 3' length of copper water pipe.

Would this gauge wire be appropriate for a part 15 antenna and how would I incorporate the copper pipe into the antenna, or should I at all?

Thanks in advance.

db
 
dbdigital said:
...Would this gauge wire be appropriate for a part 15 antenna and how would I incorporate the copper pipe into the antenna, or should I at all?
Click to expand...

Larger OD radiators have better r-f bandwidth, and require less inductance in the base loading coil of a Part 15 AM transmit system.

Using a ~ 3 meter long x 1/2" or greater OD copper pipe should give you better performance than using the shielded wire, even if you bond the conductors of that wire together.

How this meets your "stealth" issue may be a problem, though.
//
 
This part 15 rule you guys like to cite 15.219(b was for non-technical people like scout leaders,
boy scouts, teachers, and students. People who weren't expected to have a field
strength meter or know how to use one. I'm not sure the commission would let guys
like us, use this rule to set up in business. Would the FCC say, "You have expertise and you have
a field strength meter. Use it".
 
R. Fry said:
dbdigital said:
...Would this gauge wire be appropriate for a part 15 antenna and how would I incorporate the copper pipe into the antenna, or should I at all?
Click to expand...

Larger OD radiators have better r-f bandwidth, and require less inductance in the base loading coil of a Part 15 AM transmit system.

Using a ~ 3 meter long x 1/2" or greater OD copper pipe should give you better performance than using the shielded wire, even if you bond the conductors of that wire together.

How this meets your "stealth" issue may be a problem, though.
//
Click to expand...

Thanks for the answer, Mr. Fry.

The copper pipe is actually 3 feet in length X 1/2" diameter and I was considering using it as part of 3 meter antenna encased in white PVC pipe which will not be visible from the street.

Would using a mix of copper wire and pipe create matching or other problems?

db
 
dbdigital said:
Would using a mix of copper wire and pipe create matching or other problems?
Click to expand...

For best performance suggest you use a ~ 3 meter long copper pipe, and not try to use a 3 foot pipe with wire(s) attached.
//
 
I know what it is like to try to hide a 108 with PVC. But don't waste your time.
It simply doesn't work well.
If you want to disguise it, try paint.
For some reason PVC literally destroys the signal coming off a copper pipe antenna.
Carl
 
carlvenorden said:
I know what it is like to try to hide a 108 with PVC. But don't waste your time.
It simply doesn't work well.
If you want to disguise it, try paint.
For some reason PVC literally destroys the signal coming off a copper pipe antenna.
Carl
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion, Carl. I've got nearby trees to deal with as well, so I don't need anything else inhibiting coverage.

db
 
I see! The Mister Microphone club has a new thread! Hey, AM is dead! The best part 15 allows
me to stream on the internet at home and listen through my cell phone internet connection
anywhere. Others are listening through the internet too. Welcome to this century!!!!!
WIFI and digital is great!!!!
 
dbdigital said:
carlvenorden said:
I know what it is like to try to hide a 108 with PVC. But don't waste your time.
It simply doesn't work well.
If you want to disguise it, try paint.
For some reason PVC literally destroys the signal coming off a copper pipe antenna.
Carl
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion, Carl. I've got nearby trees to deal with as well, so I don't need anything else inhibiting coverage.

db
Click to expand...

Depending on the antenna's surroundings, you may be able to "hide it in plain sight" by making it out of #24 - #26 gauge magnet wire, as hams often do to build hidden HF antennas. With such a short (3 meter) length, even thinner wire such as #30 gauge may be sufficiently durable.


-- Black Shire
 
Black_Shire said:
dbdigital said:
carlvenorden said:
I know what it is like to try to hide a 108 with PVC. But don't waste your time.
It simply doesn't work well.
If you want to disguise it, try paint.
For some reason PVC literally destroys the signal coming off a copper pipe antenna.
Carl
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion, Carl. I've got nearby trees to deal with as well, so I don't need anything else inhibiting coverage.

db
Click to expand...

Depending on the antenna's surroundings, you may be able to "hide it in plain sight" by making it out of #24 - #26 gauge magnet wire, as hams often do to build hidden HF antennas. With such a short (3 meter) length, even thinner wire such as #30 gauge may be sufficiently durable.


-- Black Shire
Click to expand...

Thanks for that suggestion also, Black Shire. I notice Radio Shack has magnet wire of different gauges for five bucks. So it would be cheap enough to buy some and experiment with it.

db
 
Don't try this one!!! Once I knew a guy who bought a hydrogen balloon and generator
from Fair Radio in Ohio. He used magnet wire and sent it up more than 500 feet.
He had an old transmitter with 100 watts that he had modified for the low end of
the AM band.
He thought it was party time when he fired it up. But the darn balloon blew up
and took out all the windows in the neighborhood.
Anyway, he has grown up now and works for the government.
 
Timewarp said:
Don't try this one!!! Once I knew a guy who bought a hydrogen balloon and generator
from Fair Radio in Ohio. He used magnet wire and sent it up more than 500 feet.
He had an old transmitter with 100 watts that he had modified for the low end of
the AM band.
He thought it was party time when he fired it up. But the darn balloon blew up
and took out all the windows in the neighborhood.
Anyway, he has grown up now and works for the government.
Click to expand...

I'll try not to mix magnet wire with hydrogen. Besides my TX only outputs 100 mw.

db
 
dbdigital said:
Timewarp said:
Don't try this one!!! Once I knew a guy who bought a hydrogen balloon and generator
from Fair Radio in Ohio. He used magnet wire and sent it up more than 500 feet.
He had an old transmitter with 100 watts that he had modified for the low end of
the AM band.
He thought it was party time when he fired it up. But the darn balloon blew up
and took out all the windows in the neighborhood.
Anyway, he has grown up now and works for the government.
Click to expand...

I'll try not to mix magnet wire with hydrogen. Besides my TX only outputs 100 mw.

db
Click to expand...

With cheap helium being readily available (even Michael's craft stores carry tanks of it), who would want to risk using hydrogen? Besides, such a balloon-supported antenna would be w-a-y too long for the Part 15 rules.


-- Black Shire
 
I think Radio Shack may still carry that thinner-than-thread magnet wire, but, do yourself a favor and don't buy it.
It is so thin it is difficult to work with.
The best magnet wire is bought thru a distributor at about the best price you can find.
I buy it in bulk since I build coils.
I have no clue as to why anyone would buy this Radio Shack stuff.
If you need some it may be cheaper to buy it from me!
[email protected]
 
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