quote:

---

Hot Fusion wrote:

Do an ohms law calculation.
50 ohms impedance, 5000 watts of power equals only 10 amps of current flowing at the feedpoint, and most wire commonly used for antennas can handle that without melting.

Also, that current is only present right at the centre, as there is an impedance gradient as you travel out along the wire, resulting in minimal current and maximum voltage at the ends. At these kinds of powers I suppose corona discharge may be a problem so good insulators would be needed at the ends.

But then - who runs 5KW??!

A more probable 800 watt power level gives rise to only 4 amps at the feedpoint.

So - don't worry about a wire antenna's power handling capacity. You will give up before it does!

---