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[Towertalk] Underground wires... outdoor ducts other than pipes?

To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [Towertalk] Underground wires... outdoor ducts other than pipes?
From: spelunk.sueno@prodigy.net (EUGENE SMAR)
Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2002 18:37:12 -0700
Jerry:

     There's nothing wrong with PVC pipe - I used it in my own tower project
last year.  Works great!  I assume Mel has his reasons for considering a
cable trench vs conduit system at his station.  I was merely answering his
direct question on the subject:  Where can he find info on the product?
(BTW it's at www.trenwa.com.  Duh!)

     To answer YOUR direct question:  What are the advantages of such
concrete troughs?  For one thing, you can engineer a great deal of cable
space in a very shallow trench depth - just make the trench wide rather than
deep.  In our service area (northeast PA) we ran into a lot of glaciated
rock just below the surface, so we avoided digging too deep unless we
absolutely had to.

     Also, we spec'd this type of cable container where we would be making
changes (usually additions) to the cable plant through the life of the
facility.  It's a lot easier to open the trench lids and lay the new cables
in than to pull cable through a conduit, even if there is lots of spare
room.  OTOH, we usually used rigid conduits where we didn't expect many
changes, e.g., from the battery charger to the first cell in the on-site
battery plant.  You could also easily branch out from within the trench
system to other locations, either initially or future.  Try THAT with a
closed conduit!

     I'll admit this trench will be expensive.  (Hope you have your
checkbook handy, Mel.)

73 de
Gene Smar  AD3F
-----Original Message-----
From: Jerry Keller <k3bz@arrl.net>
To: towertalk@contesting.com <towertalk@contesting.com>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Date: Monday, August 12, 2002 3:24 PM
Subject: RE: [Towertalk] Underground wires... outdoor ducts other than
pipes?


Maybe I'm missing something, but what's wrong with PVC pipes with drainage
holes? Is there some advantage to using concrete (or similar) troughs with
covers?  Jerry K3BZ

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-admin@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-admin@contesting.com]On Behalf Of EUGENE SMAR
Sent: Monday, August 12, 2002 8:50 PM
To: ve2dc@rac.ca; towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Towertalk] Underground wires... outdoor ducts other than
pipes?


Mel:

     Try Trenwa (it's spelled correctly as shown and I don't have a URL).
My former employer, an electric utility company, used to use Trenwa precast
concrete trench products in routing electrical control cables underground
through our power substation yards.  As I recall, the pieces are essentially
side walls and square u-shaped supports for the ends of the lids.  The
cables are merely laid in the open trenches, then the covers are put into
place.  Trenwa even made this stuff out of flyash so it was significantly
lighter than concrete.  Also made lids that could be driven over.

GL es 73 de
Gene Smar  AD3F
-----Original Message-----
From: Mel Martin (VE2DC) <ve2dc@rac.ca>
To: towertalk@contesting.com <towertalk@contesting.com>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Date: Sunday, August 11, 2002 1:54 PM
Subject: [Towertalk] Underground wires... outdoor ducts other than pipes?


>==========
> |     |
> |_____|
>
>OK guys (gals)... I need a way to run wires to my tower underground (about
>200' run). Presently I have direct buried hardline and cables... been there
>for 20 years without incident... but I'd like to do it better this time...
>What I would like to find is a U shaped concrete duct with a flat slab on
>top. This would rest flush with the ground as not to interfere with the
>lawnmower... and the flat top could be lifted easily for maintenance. Only
>problem, I've been unable to locate such a product. Anyone have any
>ideas....
>
>
>Mel...
>VE2DC
>
>_______________________________________________
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_______________________________________________
Self Supporting Towers, Wireless Weather Stations, see web site:
http://www.mscomputer.com
Call 888-333-9041 to place your order, mention you saw this ad and take an
additional 5 percent off
any weather station price.
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_______________________________________________
Self Supporting Towers, Wireless Weather Stations, see web site:
http://www.mscomputer.com
Call 888-333-9041 to place your order, mention you saw this ad and take an
additional 5 percent off
any weather station price.
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