Topband: Base Insulators for Verticals

[Jon Zaimes AA1K]

> Using three separate insulators, one in each leg of a 
>> guyed tower, is about
>> the WORST possible approach.  


I have several towers using 6-8 inch diameter power line ceramic insulators at the base. Any one of these would support the tower, but using three meant I could use one under each leg rather than having to reinforce the standard steel plate on a BPC-25G or BPC-55G.

The bottom of the insulators is attached to a second steel plate that sits on a pier pin, so that gives some "flex" to the system and allows for rotation of the tower in high winds. My 160-meter tower has been in service more than 8 years, through some 60-80 mph windstorms. No sign of cracking or deteroriation of the insulators.

To test the original insulators, I took a spare, cracked one and put it between a couple of boards, then drove over it with my Jeep a few times. 

Some pix of these at www.aa1k.us under "towers"

YMMV but this works for me.

73/Jon AA1K