Towertalk
[Top] [All Lists]

[TowerTalk] Why not thicker Stainless cable?

To: aa4lr@arrl.net, fjx1@optonline.net
Subject: [TowerTalk] Why not thicker Stainless cable?
From: "Tuva Traveler" <tuvaorbust@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 05:58:15 +0000
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Bill Coleman Wrote:
Although stainless is more corrosion-resistant than galvanized cable, the alloy isn't as strong as other steel. A stainless cable would have to be larger in diameter to have the same holding strength.
Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL Mail: aa4lr@arrl.net

It seems from some past stories that the high strength steel cables, can become dangerously weakened without being overtly detectible, sometimes with disasterous results...broken cable, destroyed towers, antennas, etc...I think the recommendation was to replace the high strength crank up cable every 2 years, independent of visual inspections, in order to be truly safe.

If the stainless steel cable was suitably matched to the load, it woud be thicker, which seems OK...
Just make it thicker, and use larger pulleys and you may have a vastly longer lived cable, that won't die from corrosive weakening. Are there other negatives to Stainless Steel? (Besides Cost, HI)
Maybe it fatigues from bending...it must be an expense issue...


73, de Pat, AA6EG
aa6eg@hotmail.com

_________________________________________________________________
Check out MSN PC Safety & Security to help ensure your PC is protected and safe. http://specials.msn.com/msn/security.asp


_______________________________________________

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.

_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>