Ubbe
Member
I don't know why people do the microwave test. It rattles the molecules of organic materials so the friction generates heat. Stick a piece of paper in the microwave, it doesn't heat up. Stick a piece of metal in the microwave, it doesn't heat up but it still shields RF 100%.
It's perfectly fine to use PVC to seperate the elements. The capacitance and inductance from the PVC will be so far off that it is negligable. If you have the PVC in close contact with the elements where the impedance of the elements are at maximum, usually at their end points with several Kohm, it will effect the tuning so that you'll need to shorten the elements. I.E. cover the whole element with a PVC tube and you probable have to shorten it 5-10%
/Ubbe
It's perfectly fine to use PVC to seperate the elements. The capacitance and inductance from the PVC will be so far off that it is negligable. If you have the PVC in close contact with the elements where the impedance of the elements are at maximum, usually at their end points with several Kohm, it will effect the tuning so that you'll need to shorten the elements. I.E. cover the whole element with a PVC tube and you probable have to shorten it 5-10%
/Ubbe
