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[TowerTalk] Failed Limit Switches on Crank-up Tower

To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Failed Limit Switches on Crank-up Tower
From: John Phillipp" <jphillip@primenet.com (John Phillipp)
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 20:43:00 -0700
The lower limit switch failed on my HDX555 tower... actually the arm which
the tower contacts to activate the switch is held by a set screw, which
loosened, and the switch was not activated as I lowered the tower down.

The tower continued down as far as it could mechanically go.

I raised the tower by hand... I turned the pulley at the motor until the
tower was back at its normal height. Then I straightened and re-tightened
the activator arm.

Finally, I reset the circuit breaker on the 110 V line I have dedicated to
the tower motor, which had blown when the tower hit bottom.

That was about a year ago, and it has been working fine ever since. I raise
and lower the tower once or twice a day, since my city building permit
requires that the tower be "retracted when not in use", and I have a
neighbor who complains when it is left up all the time.

73 all,

John  N6ZAE

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Singer <k2kv@reallybig.com>
To: Tower-Talk Reflector <towertalk@contesting.com>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Date: Tuesday, October 26, 1999 8:41 AM
Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] Failed Limit Switches on Crank-up Tower


>
>So, this discussion begs the question - what will actually happen if the
>limit switches fail, at top and/or bottom??
>
>73 de Jeff K2KV
>k2kv@reallybig.com
>
>http://reallybig.com - "The Complete Resource for All Web Builders"
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
>> [mailto:owner-towertalk@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Dick Flanagan
>> Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 1999 12:54 AM
>> To: Frederick Toth; Tower-Talk Reflector
>> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Failed Limit Switches on Crank-up Tower
>>
>>
>>
>> >Today I replaced the limit switches on my 72 foot motorized crank-up
>> >tower from US Tower. The lower one failed first, fortunately.  (The
>> >limit switches automatically turn the tower motor off when the tower
>> >telescopes to its limits - up or down). When I opened up them up, I
>> >found that they were very badly corroded   - to the extent of what you
>> >might see if a battery had leaked inside them. I was surprised to see
>> >the extent of corrosion because I have owned the tower for less than
>> >three years.
>> >
>> >Has anyone found a way to get a longer lifespan out of these switches?
>> >They cost $130 each to replace.
>>
>> I had the exact same problem with one of my limit switches, but Bruce
>> at US Tower was nice enough to replace it under warranty.
>>
>> What had happened in my case was the tower had lain on its side over a
>> rainy winter before I could install it.  With the tower on its side,
>> one of the switches had its control cable (and the hold through which
>> it enters the switch) pointing skyward.  Rain water ran down the cable,
>> through the hole and completely corroded the inside of the switch.
>>
>> I have added an internal inspection of both limit switches to my annual
>> inspection routine and have taken care to waterproof where the cable
>> enters the switchs.
>>
>> 73, Dick
>>
>> --
>> Dick Flanagan W6OLD CFII Minden, Nevada DM09db (South of Reno)
>> Visit http://www.qsl.net/cvrc/
>>
>>
>>
>> --
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>>
>
>
>--
>FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
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>
>


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