There may be some power line people here who can give you're a very specific answer. It has to do with allowing the right amount of "sag". Consider that it takes infinite "pull" to hold a flexible wire exactly horizontal between two supports. That is, it's impossible. The other extreme is zero pull needed if it's allowed to lay on the ground.
What I've always done is to "eyeball" it. As you pull harder you notice that there's a point at which pulling a LOT harder, hardly makes a difference in the droop. At that point I back up and let it droop just below the point where I notice the amount of pull needed escalates quickly to make it any "tighter". With rocks/bricks in a bucket, you can see that you reach a point where you'd need to add 50% more bricks to make the wire visibly any straighter. Don't do that, of course. Let it droop. As I said, the power line and telephone people have specific rules that they use based on the wire, span, etc. If no one here turns up and you really want to measure the strain that is optimum for a specific situation, I'd suggesting searching the 'net or a technical library for information of stringing phone and power lines. Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- I am using a Carolina Windom 80 suspended with 3/16" nylon rope through stainless steel eyehooks up 50' between two large oak trees. These trees are approx 123 feet apart. Because I am located in hurricane alley and subject to high winds, I would like to remove the permanent tiedown on one of the trees and tie a weight to the rope. I would like to know how much weight should be used. What kind of weight (how many bricks or what-have-you). Thanks. Roy Morris W4WFB _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
