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Dipole in trees a fire hazard?

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Jun 6th 2020, 15:52
AJ4CG Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00 Total Topics: 0 Total Posts: 0	I live in a heavily wooded are in Georgia. The lot my house is on is very steep with tall trees making antenna work difficult. I have a 135 foot wire dipole in the trees fed by 450 ohm ladder line than I use on most HF bands besides 160 Meters. The antenna has become partially covered by vines on one leg. I know this will result in an imbalance. I prefer to operate RTTY at 500 Watts for contests. I have stopped operating out of concern that the Dipole could be a fire hazard. Is this a hazard of am I being overly concerned? Tnx, de Mike AJ4CG
Jun 6th 2020, 19:53
W1VT Super Moderator Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00 Total Topics: 0 Total Posts: 0	You could install additional insulators to pull the antenna away from the vines. Zack Lau W1VT ARRL Senior Lab Engineer
Jun 6th 2020, 21:26
AJ4CG Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00 Total Topics: 0 Total Posts: 0	Zack - thanks for the reply but I am trying to understand if there is a fire risk.
Jun 8th 2020, 00:26
W1VT Super Moderator Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00 Total Topics: 0 Total Posts: 0	https://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/wire-dipoles-up-in-the-trees-fire-hazard.356895/ A few anecdotal stories of fires.
Jun 8th 2020, 08:53
WB1GCM Super Moderator Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00 Total Topics: 0 Total Posts: 0	If you transmit with more power than a small soldering pencil uses; 30 Watts, extra precaution is needed. One only needs to use appropriate antenna insulators. I have seen a high power station ignite a tree, but usually it was done on purpose to amuse other Radio Amateurs. I have seen and heard voices from the corona at the end of an antenna. fun is.