I bet 240VAC on a long run of 2 conductor junk wire would reduce the critter population. Question...how long before an area is cleaned out and is their a racial memory such as chipmunks have for traps?
Carl KM1H ----- Original Message ----- From: "Milt -- N5IA" <[email protected]> To: "Merv Schweigert" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 5:42 PM Subject: Re: Topband: Fw: Deterring Critters was:Re: How Good is Good Enough? >I echo Merv's comments. > > Here in the US Southwest the main chewing culprits are Javelina and Pack > Rats. Any "normal" coaxial cable of the RG-59 and RG-6 type, "zip" cord, > or > house wiring type cable is regularly and consistently chewed and/or cut in > two by these animals. > > I have found two replacements which have solved the problem in my > installations. For coax, the PE covered and flooded 1/2" CATV hardline > takes care of the coaxial cable requirement. > > For on ground or near ground Beverage wires the Rural "C" wire, as Merv > and > others have commented, is NOT bothered by the animals. Another distinct > advantage to the "C" wire is its strength. > > I have a couple of long, phased, on the ground Bevs made of "C" wire. The > wires are attached at each end with the regular wire holders designed for > the wire, held in place by the ground rods. I place the ground rod > "acorn" > connector above the wire attachment to preclude the attachment slipping > off. > > I put more than 100 lbs. of tension on the wire (yes, it is made to make > LOOOOONG aerial spans on poles spaced as much as 600' feet apart) which > keeps the wire tight on the ground. At contest time I walk the Bevs and > place temporary risers under the "C" wire to make it a normal above ground > Bev. > > This is all in an area which is frequented by grazing cows. When the "C" > wire is on the ground the cows just walk on it. When installed on the > temporary risers the cows (or strong winds) can push the wires over and it > just returns to the ground due to the tension. There is no chance of the > animals becoming entangled in the wire or the wire being destroyed. > > YMMV, de Milt, N5IA > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Merv Schweigert > Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 2:01 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Topband: Fw: Deterring Critters was:Re: How Good is Good > Enough? > > I know for a fact that the telco drop wire does not appeal to chewers, > I put down a BOG and in one days time it was in 4 pieces, due to > mongoose activity, yes one of the fine imported species in Hawaii, > Or it could have been rats, we have roof rats that will chew anything > in sight also. > The wire was teflon insulated, and they did not mind the teflon. > but while clearing part of this 30 acres I ran across a long length of > telco drop line that had been laying here since the 1980s, it was intact > and in fine shape, no chew marks, dont know what the difference is > but it the rodents did not take a liking to it. > Above ground beverages have to be 10 to 12 foot up due to the > hundreds of deer crossing the property daily. I used WD12 for those > runs. > Merv K9FD/KH6 > >> That material that looks like superman's zip cord is known as "Rural C" >> drop wire. My book says that comes in 18.5 gauge (yes, half a gauge!) >> which is RUS standard #PE-7 spec #4295, 14 and 12 gauge (AWG) >> configurations which is "Bell System Type" spec #4283. It lists it as >> 30% copper CCS wire with a HDPE jacket. Tough stuff. I'm looking in my >> General Cable catalog and it shows the minimum length as 1,000 feet so >> it isn't unrealistic to order this stuff if you have a lot of runs to >> put in. >> >> This stuff used to be the standard telephone drop cable used in rural >> and suburban areas and it is *strong*. The newer cable is a few 24 AWG >> twisted pairs with a glass fiber support strand and overall PVC jacket. >> I know the telco guys replace the old cable periodically with the new >> stuff (like when someone orders a second line or fancy DSL service that >> needs the twisted pairs) so it might be worth calling the local telco >> service yard to see if you can get their old scraps if you want to keep >> it cheap. >> >> -Bill >> >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2114/4868 - Release Date: 03/13/12 > > _______________________________________________ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 10.0.1424 / Virus Database: 2113/4868 - Release Date: 03/13/12 > _______________________________________________ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
