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How to Make a Ladder Line Center Insulator

The two wires on a ham-radio ladder line carry signals from the transmitter to the antenna. These wires require the proper spacing to retain the correct impedance for maximum broadcast performance These spacers form the "rungs" that give a ladder line its name. Making these spacers is fast and inexpensive.

Things You'll Need

Package of disposal ink pens
Pliers
Wire snips
6-inch plastic wire ties

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the cap from the ink pen using the pliers. Dispose of the cap and ink cartridge.
- 2
  Cut the body of the plastic pen to the needed width with the wire snips. The width is dependent on the impedance desired from the ladder line, and varies from system to system.
- 3
  Slide the wire tie through the pen and around the left-hand line in the ladder. Bring the tail of the zip tie around and back through the pen. The tail and latch must be at the same end.
- 4
  Lay the pen flat, spanning the two leads in the ladder line. Secure the pen by bringing the tail around the second line, through the tie's latch.
- 5
  Snip off any excess tail from the zip tie with the wire snips. Repeat the process down the ladder line as needed to maintain the proper line spacing.

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