Open Wire Spreader

[aa5wg]

Tom and all:

Today UPS delivered a batch of cable ties.  I tried these cable ties with the Fi-Shock insulator, mentioned above, and I must admit it looks like a good spreader.  I'll have to try these in the winter to see how snow and ice work out.

There are other materials that are more rigid and smoother (round) than the Fi-Shock insulator.

However, for mechanical simplicity and investment the cable tie/Fi-Shock system may be top dog for home brew ladder line.

Chuck

 

[W2PFY]

I think this subject was up once before and I recall someone I think from Africa who may be a member here that was manufacturing spreaders at a very reasonable price. Anyone else out there remember who that might have been?

well I answered my own question. Here is the link

http://www.instantladderline.co.za/home.html

[aa5wg]

These look good.  Do you know if the wire slips during high winds?

Chuck

[W2PFY]

These look good.  Do you know if the wire slips during high winds?

Chuck

Why not send him a email and ask and while your at it, find out what he wants for them in the USA?

[W2NBC]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzFKGB6qkXs&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Survived 97 mph winds here.. using # 12

[VE7 Kilohertz]

Hi guys,

I am about to re-erect my 80M double Ex. Zepp with a new steel end support mast, which I'll post some questions about in a separate thread, but I also want to replace my old Johnson porcelain spreader feed line with new lighter weight spreaders. I am using #14 solid and the Johnson 104 ceramic spreaders and have about 60' of feed line.

Could someone post a closeup pic of the Fi-shock insulator or a part #? I found 6 pages of various insulators on their website, but don't see anything suitable.

Thanks,
Paul
VE7KHz

[aa5wg]

Paul:

I was told that Fi-Shock was bought by Zareba.  Their insulator part number, by Zareba, is HT4FT1200.

Here is a link showing a new picture of the box that contains 200 of the 4 inch insulators.

http://www.hk94.com/B0079GH998.shtml

In Traverse City, Michigan this new Zareba box for 200 insulators was $12.99 plus tax.

W1AEX has a nice web page that shows this same 4 inch insulator.  The blue box on his site is the old       FI-SHOCK box that holds 200 of these insulators.

Here is his link:

http://www.w1aex.com/owl/owl.html

Chuck

[VE7 Kilohertz]

Thanks Chuck.

Now I see what they look like. Lots of farm supply places around here so I should be able to find something today.

73

Paul

[aa5wg]

Hi Paul:

Your welcome.

Chuck

[VE7 Kilohertz]

I've decide to go down a different path. N4LQ posted a Youtube video a while back, which I found in my search for spreaders. He used a cheap pen tube, and zap straps to hold the wires, brilliant idea, but I wanted something a little more robust, and free.   I remembered I had 100's of feet of PEX given to me years ago, in various sizes. I found a coil of white 1/4" and made up this sample. I had a bag of 7.5" UV rated ties. It's amazing how much lighter this is over the ceramic Johnson bars. I am updating my wire as well. It was #16 and I found I had 1000's of feet of new on the spool #14 heavy enameled from my wind turbine prototyping days. So my new feedline will consist of the #14 enameled wire with these 1/4 diameter tube spreaders and the black zap straps. The tube has very little room for any critters to get in. It's pretty tight. Wire spacing will be 3", which is identical to the Johnson spacers. The 7.5" zap straps are JUST long enough. Impedance will be about 540 ohms.

Here are a few pictures of the sample I made up.

Cheers

Paul
VE7KHz

[wb2jix]

http://www.trueladderline.com/ladder/ladder.html

Mine has been up for 10 years. No worries. I build a counterweight/pulley arrangement for when the wind blows.
He might sell you just the spreaders or make your own. They are so simple and foolproof. I am happy to take macro closeup photos if you need any. I remember looking at his antennas and saying to myself "heck; I can do that for a lot cheaper!" Good luck. Spend the money; support a guy that is super helpful and get it up in the air.

Brian

[ke7trp]

Out here in AZ the Zip ties wont work.  They end up snapping off in a year. Very brittle.. The heat and sun just take them out.

I have the line that brian just posted.  Its been up for a few years. No trouble. No problem in the wet or in high winds. Using it right now on 40 meters.

C