----------
> From: K7LXC@aol.com
> To: 00tlzivney@bsuvc.bsu.edu; towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Testing guy terminations
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Date: Wednesday, April 09, 1997 10:39 AM
>
> In a message dated 97-04-08 21:34:48 EDT, you write:
>
> > How do we KNOW (proof test)
> > the installed strength of our particular connections?
>
I have the original preforms on my #1 tower, which are 24 years old. So far
no problems. Thats proof enough for me.
Mick..W4YV
> Interesting question. I don't know of any professional company who
> does this so it seems to be out of the purview of amateurs. All of the
tower
> components that we use and install have been designed by engineers and
> exhaustively tested by the manufacturers to comply with industry
standards
> (like the TIA-222). You can bet that there is safe engineering overhead
> already added to the specification. That's another reason that justifies
the
> PE stamp on your tower plans.
>
> > I don't use
> > guy grips because the one and only time I tried using them, bought new
> > from Texas Towers on guy cable bought new from Texas Towers, a grip
which
> > APPEARED to be properly installed let loose while tensioning the guy
> > with a comealong.
>
> Using the proper Preforms for a guy wire should be a slam dunk for
safe
> and reliable installation. The Preform design takes in account cable
> diameter, inside diameter, rod diameter, number of rods, pitch length,
number
> of pitch lengths, direction of lay and raw material. These seemingly
simple
> devices are actually pretty complex. Preformed guy grips have largely
> replaced cable clamps as guy wire terminations in most industries because
> they're faster, easier and more consistent in their installation than
cable
> clamps.
>
> I guess my question to your above mentioned problem is what error
was
> made that lead to the problem? An error was made somewhere.
> >
> > Does anyone out there test under load both ends of cables they use on
> > their towers? If so, to what load and how is the tension applied?
> > Obviously we can't test to destruction but how about loading to, say,
> > 5,000 pounds of tension on the 1/4" guy wire? Most of us don't have
> > comealongs that are safe with that kind of tension, and a failure of a
> > guy at that tension would appear to be potentially fatal for the
rigger,
> > but how else do we KNOW that the installation will hold under the
design
> > load?
> >
> See the above comments. The field test that you are mentioning may
have
> the sole purpose of giving you more confidence in your hardware and
> installation abilities. As for me, I will follow the manufacturer's
> specifications and try not to reinvent the wheel for industry accepted
> hardware and techniques.
>
> 73, Steve K7LXC
>
> --
> FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
> Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
> Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
> Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
--
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
|