Steve:
Two years ago (two months from now), we sustained a severe and historic ice
storm here in NW TN (extending into the entire state of KY). I had 2"radial
ice on everything. None of the power poles stood and we were without power
for a week - and we were lucky. My freestanding heavy-duty HDX-572 stood up
to the test fully extended !! The antennas and the 3/8" wall chromolly mast
were bent like twigs. None of that survived. I spent the intervening time
rebuilding things (and planting a new 2nd tower !) and I hope I never EVER
have to see another ice storm again !!
73, Jamie
WB4YDL
-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Steve Walters
Sent: Sunday, November 14, 2010 10:14 AM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] TX-455 and Ice
Hi Guys!
I'm a new TX-455 tower owner, it's sitting on the footing waiting for the 28
day concrete cure to be finished.
Just recently, U S Tower updated their website and in the Ham products
section have placed a note saying that their towers (including the ever
popular TX-455) are not rated for ice and that these towers must be fully
retracted during ice storms.
I realize that the weight of the tower greatly increases with a thick
coating of ice so the cable holding it up a seeing a far far greater load
than normal. When I bought the tower, I had assumed this was engineered into
the design but now it seems not. Here in the Poconos of PA, we have lots of
nasty ice storms so this means I am perpetually going to put this tower up
and down. I guess I can do this but it wasn't in my plans and I am going to
want to motorize this puppy in some fashion if I have to do it often.
So (finally) my question: Are there any instances of TX-455 failure due to
ice loading? Any other comments on this issue are most welcome.
73 and good DX!
Steve...
K4IKM@ptd.net
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
=======
Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.
(Email Guard: 7.0.0.18, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.16180)
http://www.pctools.com/
=======
=======
Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.
(Email Guard: 7.0.0.18, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.16180)
http://www.pctools.com/
=======
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
|