Topband: WTB: Guy wire stuff

[Bill Wichers]

The guy-grips ("regular" / utility style) are supposed to be (according to catalog data) be of the same strength as the cable they are designed to grip. In that industry, the line tension is part of the load calculations used for the pole ratings, guys/anchors, and all the rest of the pole line hardware. There are NESC specs for how that is handled with wind and ice load. The grips can't just be a "looks good, don't worry about it" spec if they are going to be used.

The Big-grips (I was just looking at the catalog in the link recently posted), have rated strengths specified and are a little longer. It may be that they are more thoroughly tested/specified and the extra length is extra insurance for the tower-guying-rated products. I would think the tower guying application is probably considered to be more critical and needing of more careful/consistent product testing.

If the primary actual difference is in the product's quality control, then either is likely to work fine in practice but the big-grips that are specified for use with tower guying would be safer, especially if you ever had to deal with an insurance claim.

The only other thing I can think of is that the preforms used in utility construction, to me (just by looking), appear to be slightly smaller than the guy cable at the cabled loop part of the preform grip (it's one or two individual strands less than in the cable itself).

Has anyone ever directly compared the two types to see if there are any obvious physical differences besides just the length? 

  -Bill

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
> donovanf at starpower.net
> Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2014 3:34 PM
> To: topband at contesting.com
> Cc: Greg
> Subject: Re: Topband: WTB: Guy wire stuff
> 
> Hi Greg,
> 
> I've never seen a rated holding strength for Guy-Grips (the type used on
> wood poles). Big Grips are rated at 6650 pounds holding strength.
> Big Grips are two inches longer than Guy Grips.
> 
> The manufacturer says:
> 
> "Guy-Grip Dead-ends are intended for use on single wood poles associated
> with distribution construction."
> 
> and:
> 
> "Big-Grip Dead-ends are designed for use on Transmission, Antenna,
> Communications, and other types of guyed structures that require use of
> large guy strand."
> 
> 73
> Frank
> W3LPL
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> 
> From: "Greg" <n4cc at windstream.net>
> To: donovanf at starpower.net
> Sent: Thursday, September 4, 2014 6:58:22 PM
> Subject: RE: Topband: WTB: Guy wire stuff
> 
> Why is that, Frank? My understanding is that the preforms are stronger than
> the guy wire so I'm curious why feel that Big Grips are necessary? Thanks.
> 73, Greg-N4CC