Attic Dipole Fire

The infamous attic dipole.

Attic dipole fire.

I installed the liquid tight conduit from my mechanical room to the attic of the house fire sealing all structural penetrations to ensure maximum safety while meeting code for electrical work which is not technically required in this case but is a best practice. I ve been using attic dipoles since i started shortwave listening in the mid 1970s. Here s the first attempt at a design. Potentially flammable material as i didn t want any arcing to create a fire risk.

The first antenna was a simple zigzag dipole which i fastened to the roof spars using electric fence. If the attic area is not large enough to accommodate an almost full size dipole simply erect as much of the antenna as possible in a straight line then bend the ends of the dipole up down or sideways from the main portion of the system. A coaxial cable trap dipole antenna installed in the attic provides a surprisingly effective solution to hf operation on the 10 15 20 30 40 and 80 meter amateur bands at a qth with restrictive covenants that prohibit outside. This was installed at a previous qth i will be the first or millionth remember i m from fl to affirm that the antenna is the determining factor for success when it comes to one s station set up.

Hidden attic dipole antenna installation. It works quite well or at least good enough for me. Mac af4ps fp 51 note. Antennas in the attic are a fire hazard this is one of my most favorite excuses because the factual case of a fire hazard is nearly impossible to make.

Loft attic antennas for restricted spaces. The fema document previously mentioned states that a whopping 43 of all residential attic fires are caused by electrical malfunction. My current amateur station uses an attic dipole that s nearly 60 feet long running along the roof peak with the last eight feet on each end bent along the attic walls. The better your antenna the more success you will have making contacts.

You should attempt to maintain symmetry in the system by bending the ends of the antenna in equal amounts. Posted on 2015 12 24 by james.