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Step Six - Installing the wire/ tip space assemblies
- Attach the 20 meter wire/tip space assembly to the top center post terminals using the brass nuts and washers to fit the bolts there.
Since you can't grip the bolt heads inside the center post, you will need to use pliers to hold the bolt while tightening the nut. You might
want to put a spot of super glue on the threads to keep them from loosening.
- Beginning at the spreaders 3 and 4 and working forward, attach the assembly at the appropriate terminal strip to the 20 meter spreader
clamp using a piece of Kevlar/Dacron cord, a piece of copper wire or cable ties around the terminal strip.
- Continue until the assembly has been attached at all the six spreaders.
- Install all six permanent support cords. Now you can remove the 12 temporary nylon support cords.
- Now, making only small changes in clamp positions or terminal strip positions as required, seek to obtain wire sections that are level
with one another and level with the ground. Look along the vertical alignment of the bent spreaders to make sure none are twisted out
of shape. This is more art than science but if you have done a good job using the 128 inches for the various parts of Step 4 it should be
pretty close. Be patient with this step as it is the major part of obtaining a well balanced, symmetrical hex beam.
- When you are satisfied with the 20 meter band, install the other bands in turn by first connecting them to the center post terminals. Then
loop cable ties under the clamps and over the wires to make small loops that the wires can move freely in. When the assemblies are
attached to all six spreaders, check visually for tautness. They should not have much tension on them as you want the 20 meter wire
assembly to provide the shape of the hex beam. But if they are too slack, move each of the clamps for that band up an equal amount
until the slackness is taken up.
Click these photos to enlarge
Connect the 20 meter driver
lugs to the terminals using
brass or stainless steel nuts. Use
a little super glue on the
threads to keep the nuts from
working their way off.
lugs to the terminals using
brass or stainless steel nuts. Use
a little super glue on the
threads to keep the nuts from
working their way off.
Starting at Spreaders 3 and 4,
attach the 20 meter wire
assembly to the spreaders.
Repeat for spreaders 2 and 5
and then last, attach to
spreaders 1 and 6. Here is the
attachment at Spreader 1.
Note that wire and the
Kevlar/Dacron cord are used
because of the amount of
tension at this point.
attach the 20 meter wire
assembly to the spreaders.
Repeat for spreaders 2 and 5
and then last, attach to
spreaders 1 and 6. Here is the
attachment at Spreader 1.
Note that wire and the
Kevlar/Dacron cord are used
because of the amount of
tension at this point.
Attach the six permanent
support cords as shown. Now,
remove all 12 temporary
nylon cords and discard. You
are ready to make
adjustments of the clamps
and terminal strips to achieve
symmetry and balance and
level wires on the hex beam.
When you are finished with 20
meters, the final shape of the
hex beam will have been
achieved.
support cords as shown. Now,
remove all 12 temporary
nylon cords and discard. You
are ready to make
adjustments of the clamps
and terminal strips to achieve
symmetry and balance and
level wires on the hex beam.
When you are finished with 20
meters, the final shape of the
hex beam will have been
achieved.
Now install the 17 meter
wire/tip spacer assembly in the
same manner as the 20 meter
assembly. However, you will
not anchor the assembly at the
spreaders but merely loop
cable ties over it so that the
assembly can move freely. You
will not want to have the other
assemblies taut. Let the 20
meter assembly control the
shape of the hex beam. Taut
wires do not enhance
performance.
This is a connection to
spreader 1 of Band 17.
wire/tip spacer assembly in the
same manner as the 20 meter
assembly. However, you will
not anchor the assembly at the
spreaders but merely loop
cable ties over it so that the
assembly can move freely. You
will not want to have the other
assemblies taut. Let the 20
meter assembly control the
shape of the hex beam. Taut
wires do not enhance
performance.
This is a connection to
spreader 1 of Band 17.
Here is the attachment of the
20 meter wire/tip spacer
assembly to spreaders 2,3,4
and 5. Note the radial support
cord extending toward the
center post.
20 meter wire/tip spacer
assembly to spreaders 2,3,4
and 5. Note the radial support
cord extending toward the
center post.
The 20 meter wire/tip space
assembly has been installed,
the support cords have been
installed and adjustments have
been completed to achieve a
satisfactory hex beam shape.
assembly has been installed,
the support cords have been
installed and adjustments have
been completed to achieve a
satisfactory hex beam shape.
A better view of the support
cord connections at the center
post.
cord connections at the center
post.