Also, your wrapping the drop around the strand?????? What are you thinking??? At best, the strand will saw it in half when the wind starts blowing. I agree that you best course of action is to make your drip (service) loop at the tap and go mid span. If you tie wrap the drop out to the mid span clamp, alot of times (after you move your ladder a dozen times) the drop will end up on top of the span, sqirrel haven!! Let the drop (swoop) down about an inch from the strand from the service loop to the mid-span clamp and use the the messenger to tie to the clamp, also leaving a loop at the clamp.
A service loop is different than a drip loop, a service loop is two (circles) of cable at the tap.
A drip loop is simply a "U" shaped small loop, a drip loop keeps the water from running into the tap (we all know that). A service loop provides the same protection from water, but it also gives you enough slack so you wont have to replace the drop in a few years after 4 or 5 fittings have gone bad and every hillbilly has been up there cutting on it. Hope the input helps, Later, red
