Yes, I caught significant corrosion with the 5/8" dia. Rohn supplied guy anchor
rods
about 3 years ago during an inspection of a tower I installed about 20 years
previously.
About 6" below the earth the galvanizing was partially gone and there was
noticeable
pitting of the remaining steel, reducing the diameter by perhaps an 1/16" of an
inch after
I
wire brushed all the rust off. I then put on a cold galvanizing paint and now
inspect it
yearly.
I did this inspection because this guy anchor was in a damp area. It was in an
area of
lots of
vegetation and the soil was acidic, due to a lot of oak trees and their leaves.
No problems since, but I see evidence that suggests that the galvanizing
doesn't hold up
as
you would like.
I would also like to see if anyone else has observed this. How many of you
are living
with
towers you put up 20+ years ago?
73,
Chuck..K1KW
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Frenaye" <frenaye@pcnet.com>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2003 1:24 AM
Subject: [TowerTalk] anchor failure from corrosion?
I hadn't ever heard of guy anchors on ham radio towers failing because of
corrosion I'm
wondering if it's something all of us need to worry about - anyone with
firsthand
experience?
-- Tom
> HELPFUL ADVICE ON GUY ANCHOR INSPECTIONS (CGC #570)
>
> Over the years there have been numerous instances of towers
>falling due to guy anchor failure, with guy wires hanging on to
>as little as 1/4" of remaining shaft before failure.
>
> As a Tower Safety and Rescue trainer for our company, I have
>taken trainees to a guyed tower to see the "point of daylight."
>This is where the guy anchor meets the dirt, and is the most
>likely place to reveal corrosion just below the surface, as shown
>in the diagram of CGC #570. Dig down about 6-12 inches and you
>may likely find the beginnings of corrosion. This inspection
>should be performed regularly if you own a guyed tower.
>
> The best way to prevent or delay the corrosion process is
>through the use of a "Sacrificial Anode" - or Cathodic Protection.
>You can see the process of corrosion and how it can be prevented
>in these instructional animations courtesy of www.anchorguard.com:
>
> Corrosion: http://www.anchorguard.com/images/Corrosion.gif
> Protection: http://www.anchorguard.com/images/protection.gif
>
> Timothy H. Lynch, mailto:tlynch@w-t-s.com
> Western Technical Services
> THE CGC COMMUNICATOR
> CGC #572
> Tuesday, April 29, 2003
> ________
>
> Robert F. Gonsett, W6VR, Publisher
> <rgonsett@ieee.org>
>
> Stephen H. Blodgett, W7RNA, Letters Editor
> mailto:steve@earthsignals.com
>
> Copyright 2003, Communications General? Corporation (CGC)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------
e-mail: frenaye@pcnet.com YCCC --> http://www.yccc.org/
Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather
Stations",
and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for
Sherman,
W2FLA.
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