How small is to small for wire

[KF6NFW]

how small is to small for a wire antenna. I am able to put up an antenna, but needs to be very light weight for the moment until I get a better support. I tried using 10G stranded copper for a half wave 40 meter dipole, but my mast is much to flexible at the top to support this without risking breaking the mast. so I found a spool of 22G solid on the bench and then wondered if this was to small.
The plan is for an inverted V with apex at 33 feet or so.

[WX7G]

Number 22 wire is fine. I often use #26 stranded copper clad steel wire (The Wireman) for antennas. I have used #32 wire but it tends to break in the wind and when birds fly into it.

[K7JBQ]

My halfsquare is made of 22G (stranded). It's been problem-free for 5 years.

73,
Bill

[KF6NFW]

Thanks guys, thats what I wanted to hear, i was starting t o doubt if I would get on HF from this location. now that I know of others at least working with success, i wont worry if it doesnt work like magic, as long as it works.!

What kind of power are you guys operating with? I only have 100W to play with so, and an auto tuner so it is a simple setup.

[WB2WIK]

Even #22 gauge copper wire will handle a kilowatt just fine. If it's just a center-fed half-wave inverted vee, the current is maximum at the feedpoint and diminishes to nearly zero at the ends of the wires, and it's all "air cooled."

Most of the weight isn't the wires, though. Most of the weight in such an installation comes from two components: The feedline (presumably coax) and the tension on the wires, when you pull on them to try to make them fairly straight.

The difference in weight between 10 gauge and 22 gauge wire, when you're only talking about 65 feet of wire overall, is almost insignificant, it's maybe a pound at most. The REAL difference is the tension. You might have to "pull" 10 gauge wire harder to keep it from sagging a lot, and might have to pull 22 gauge a bit less, especially if it's stranded wire which is more flexible than solid.

Any mast that cannot support a 40m dipole made of 10 AWG is likely to also have problems with a 40m dipole made of 22 AWG, in my experience. That must be a pretty weak mast. I hope it's not one of those telescoping fibreglas things, they have no strength at all, and every claim I've seen about them is complete baloney.

[KF6NFW]

Yes Steve it is one of them cheap piece of crap fiberglass poles. I picked it up from MFJ, and have regretted it from the moment I got it. no mention of it being such a waste of money. and not worth the headache to send it back so I have a 33 foot fiberglass piece of garbage that wont support the weight, and the 10G I have has a pretty excessive coat of insulation, but I aint complaining, this was part of an old job site construction extension cord. I think it is actually 8 gauge come to think of it. Either way yes it is much to heavy and weighs a couple pounds compared to less then a pound for the 22G.

[WB2WIK]

I doubt it's a couple of pounds less. I think maybe one pound at most.

But those telescoping fibreglas poles aren't worth the powder to blow them up, in my experience. I bought a very heavy duty one that was "100% guaranteed" and thicker than the MFJ masts by about 2:1 and it snapped first time I used it. The guarantee was worthless, like the pole.

Use Schedule 80 aluminum tubing, or galvanized steel. Doesn't cost any more, and a lot stronger.

[K8JD]

Why not just run your 22 ga wire up the 33 ft pole, tape it in place at a few points, and with a few radials on the gnd below, you have a 40M Vertical !!

[WA7KKP]

An old friend and college roommate used #38 wire he salvaged from a television deflection yoke. Worked fine until water froze on it, and the weight broke the wire. For a stealth antenna, okay. For something more permanent, not so okay.

Gary WA7KKP

[K8MHZ]

Apparently no one cares what the NEC says about it?