Control wire for remote antenna switch and Rotor

[airplane1]

I am looking for control wire for my Alliance rotor and Ameritron RCS-8V and searching on the net I found this wire used for irrigation systems 18/6 x 250 Ft. Irrigation Wire and I do not see any reason not to buy it. It is very cheap compared to all other 6 and 8 conductor wire I have found at about twice the cost.

If anyone out there know a reason I should not use it that I am missing it would be great to hear it.

Thanks,
AP

 

[gamegetter]

there is some wire for sale in the forum swap shop, not sure if you can make that work, you might take a look and save even more if it will work for you.

 

[airplane1]

Thanks for the info, I can not use it but it was worth checking out.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

I can't see any reason not to use that wire that you are asking about other than to make sure the outer sheath is UV resistant which it probably is if it is intended for irrigation.

 

[Beetle]

Be sure that the size of the conductors relative to the length is suitable for the current the motor needs. If it's borderline, you can always double up the copper if there are enough conductors.

 

[trucker]

Other than wire size and UV resistance, I would also find out if it is shielded or not.
Depending on power levels you intend to run (or could in the future) RFI on the rotor cable can be a problem. Better to have the extra shielding and not need it, than to need it and not have it.
james
aka:Trucker

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Be sure that the size of the conductors relative to the length is suitable for the current the motor needs. If it's borderline, you can always double up the copper if there are enough conductors.

When I read that my first reaction was "Motor? What motor?" I missed the rotator part and just saw the remote coaxial switch. This cable is fine for the switch but take Beetle's advice regarding the rotator.

 

[airplane1]

It has a PE jacket and is direct burry so that is good. It also is more than the requiered 22 gage wire needed for the rotor so that is all good.

But it is not shielded so I guess it will not work. I was planning to run up to 600 watts max and do not need any rf comming back.

Thanks,
AP

 

[Beetle]

I've never had a problem with RFI on rotor cables or displays, and I've never used shielded cable for that.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

The best bet is to try it and see. Most rotator cable is not shielded and most people have no problem. If there is a problem a few bypass capacitors of about 0.01 uF from the leads to ground will solve it and it's easy to do right inside the control box.

 

[airplane1]

Cool, I will order it and give it a try. I was talking to a friend who also said I could snap some beads around the control cable too if there is a problem..

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Beads over the entire cable should work as well. Pair that up with individual ceramic bypass capacitors on each lead and there should be NO problems whatsoever. try it without anything first and see. You may not have a problem to begin with.Every setup is different.