Testing- can 3/4 schedule 40 pipe be used for antenna, solar, light, and camera mount

[GON]

Years ago I learned that schedule 40 pipe was a stronger, easier to work with, and a much less costly alternative to other methods for hanging very heavy hanging flower baskets under an awning.

Looking into mounting a digital TV antenna, camera, motion detector light, and a small solar panel. Not sure what works best, and also easy to install and cost efficient. Decided to try schedule 40 pipe again. One of the pipe is a 10 foot length, and the other pipe a five foot length, 3/4 inch size with a union. Of note, anti-seize is critical for a setup like this.

Earlier I mounted just the TV antenna. Luckily, a significant windstorm came in yesterday evening and I was able to watch the pole. The pole did bend but the setup did not break. I am not sure this setup with the future added camera, motion detector light, and solar panel can withstand strong winds. Wish there were longer than 10 foot lengths available, or an alternate method than a union to join pieces together.

BTW- the $2 pool on clearance at Wal-Mart last fall made an excellent alternative to a wheel barrel to hold the soil (clay) being dug out for this project. The wheel barrel was not easily accessible.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Use to work in Gas Construction for 36yrs at a local utility company. 3/4" schedule 40 pipe is fairly strong, but was only used indoors for meter set ups. The weak part of it is where it's threaded, because you're removing material to make the threads. Personally, I would have went with 1". Bit more meat/steel. If it's un-coated plain black pipe, i would paint it with a rattle can of Rustoleum Enamel. Plain black pipe rusts fast out in the weather. That's what we use to do to outdoor meter set ups to stem the rust. Outdoor meter set ups required anywhere from 3" to 1" schedule 40 pipe. Replaced many outdoor meter set ups where the 1" rusted out and started leaking gas. Just my opinion from field work. You did a nice job on it !!!! Hope it doesn't bend over in a bad wind storm -)

 

[97K15004WD]

I used 20" fence top rails for my antenna mounting.

It sways a litlle, but has survived with no damage during Gale force winds here.

It's about 35' tall. Don't forget to ground your pole!! Very important.

 

[Pablo]

That thing gonna wave all over the place. I tried 1" black iron pipe for a sail cover and deck lights........it was structurally fine but too much give.

I went to 2" and perfect. A little give but stout.

 

[Elkins45]

I mounted an outdoor TV antenna on a piece of 1” thinwall conduit just because I had it. That was a few months ago and so far it’s still holding.

 

[RhondaHonda]

Maybe try slightly larger for the first 8’ then a reducer down to 1” for the rest?

The reducer may be the weak link in that setup, though.

 

[The_Jeff]

My house came with a flagpole similarly constructed, but IIRC it was 1" up top and a little thicker down low. Held up fine.

 

[alarmguy]

Similar to some comments above
My question would be would it be possible to insert the three-quarter inch pipe into a 1 inch pipe to increase durability. The 1 inch pipe would come up ideally for about half the length or more from the base

 

[GON]

Hasty update.

The antenna didn't last the windy weekend. The weak point is the union joint. as @alarmguy pointed out, having the 3/4 inch slide inside the one inch pipe might be the solution.

Also appreciate the recommendations to go to one inch, ground the pipe, and paint the pipe.

 

[CDX825]

Need a regular pipe coupling instead of the union.

 

[Arc]

1" rgs minimum with threaded couplings. It will also double as a lightning rod. Your best bet is a section of the old three sided antenna towers though.

 

[dbias]

1" rgs minimum with threaded couplings. It will also double as a lightning rod. Your best bet is a section of the old three sided antenna towers though.

Came here to say this. The first house I bought was from a big time ham radio buff. He had installed a fifty foot tall section of the three sided tower and for some reason also had a good amount of copper wire strung under the rafters running from one side of the house to the other. I don’t know anything about it but he put a lot of effort into his setup and that tower was very solid.

 

[Arc]

Came here to say this. The first house I bought was from a big time ham radio buff. He had installed a fifty foot tall section of the three sided tower and for some reason also had a good amount of copper wire strung under the rafters running from one side of the house to the other. I don’t know anything about it but he put a lot of effort into his setup and that tower was very solid.

I still see people on marketplace giving those towers away for free from time to time. Years ago they were on almost every house so we could watch all three TV channels. The copper wire in the attic was a homemade antenna, still common practice for Ham operators.

 

[PandaBear]

A schedule 40 that long would likely "flex" in the wind. At best it will have signal strength problem as the wind blow, at worst it may wiggle its way loose and fall eventually. I was also told they wear out under UV and will eventually crack, was recommended to paint it. I'd just use a metal pipe instead if I were to paint it, and it is likely grounded as well.

Based on math I would add some cable to tie them from at least 2 or 3 more locations to avoid structural issue, if I were to use a flexible pipe instead of metal for something that tall.

 

[Nukeman7]

A schedule 40 that long would likely "flex" in the wind. At best it will have signal strength problem as the wind blow, at worst it may wiggle its way loose and fall eventually. I was also told they wear out under UV and will eventually crack, was recommended to paint it. I'd just use a metal pipe instead if I were to paint it, and it is likely grounded as well.

Based on math I would add some cable to tie them from at least 2 or 3 more locations to avoid structural issue, if I were to use a flexible pipe instead of metal for something that tall.

Go back and re-read the thread. He installed schedule 40 metal pipe, not PVC. It bent in the wind anyway.