small insulators probably have a lot less stress on them. I too have also been using home built insulators from PVC pipe. I had to take down my Windom today because of a loose connection issue. I ended up replacing one of the 2 insulators because it developed a crack from one of the holes (and only the other side was holding it up.

Believe me, around here, the UV is about 12 times more intense than out there. so, yeah, it will tend to degrade PVC pipe a bit faster than in other locations.

DE n7zzt Eric

On Nov 7, 2015, at 7:39 PM, John Miller wrote:

> I'd hate to tell you how old my dipole is and the PVC insilators have never 
> been replaced. I had to replace a couple other things to get it up and going 
> when I got it but not them and it was on Martha's Vineyard for a long time 
> before I got it.  With all the sun, wind, salt air and what not there, if it 
> didn't break yet, it's not going to any time soon.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Tom Fowle" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, November 07, 2015 8:57 PM
> Subject: Re: Using PVC as a Frame for My 10M Full Wave Loop Antenna
> 
> 
>> I built a "buddy stick" shortened vertical with schedule 40 PVC and it was
>> in the wx for couple years, no noticable deterioration.
>> 
>> Tom Fowle WA6IVG
>> 
>> On Sat, Nov 07, 2015 at 06:19:05PM -0700, Eric Oyen wrote:
>>> one thing you need to know: PVC is not UV resistant. You need to paint =
>>> it with a nonmetallic primer pain. Otherwise, your loop will degrade in =
>>> a matter of months in exposure to sun. It might not break in that time, =
>>> but as time goes on and any stresses get placed on the pipe, it will =
>>> crack and eventually fail.
>>> 
>>> DE n7zzt Eric
>>> 
>>> On Nov 7, 2015, at 10:42 AM, Ed Malmgren wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Richard, I make insolaters for dipoles out of P V C all the time by =
>>> drilling=20
>>>> holes in them and they workout okay I think, I have checked the =
>>> resistance=20
>>>> with a v o m and they show no resistance so take it for what it's =
>>> worth from=20
>>>> here and and I would run the wire inside the pipe.  G L  and 73.
>>>> =20
>>>> =20
>>>> =20
>>>> ED K7UC
>>>> -----Original Message-----=20
>>>> From: Richard B. McDonald
>>>> Sent: Saturday, November 07, 2015 9:11 AM
>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>> Subject: Using PVC as a Frame for My 10M Full Wave Loop Antenna
>>>> =20
>>>> Hi!
>>>> =20
>>>> =20
>>>> =20
>>>> So, I am planning to make my RX only 10M (28.4 MHZ) full wave loop =
>>> antenna
>>>> into an octagon shape.  My wire is insulated 14 gauge stranded copper =
>>> wire.
>>>> I intend to use ~1.0" diameter PVC pipe for a frame.  About PVC pipe, =
>>> does
>>>> it matter if I 1) put the wire inside the pipe or 2) tape it to the =
>>> outside
>>>> of the pipe?  I prefer putting the wire inside the pipe.  However, are 
>>>> =
>>> there
>>>> any RF interference issues with PVC?  Also, I wonder how PVC will =
>>> hold-up to
>>>> the elements - particularly UV light (sunlight)?
>>>> =20
>>>> =20
>>>> =20
>>>> 73,
>>>> =20
>>>> Richard KK6MRH=20