[TowerTalk] Supporting Long Hardline Runs

[K7LXC]

In a message dated 98-01-18 16:20:14 EST, seay@alaska.net writes:

>  The proper way is to buy the standard coaxial cable hangers
>  that can be bought from most of the mfg's such as Andrews,
>  DB Products, etc.

    I'm talking hoisting grips and you're talking hangers. 

    I've installed miles of commercial cables and always used hoisting grips.
For ham applications, I don't see any problem with using Kellem grips - at
least you can get them locally. BTW, the Andrew price for a hoisting grip for
1" cable is $51.00. You can get the Kellem grip for less than $10.00. 

    The Kellem grips primary purpose is for pulling cables through electrical
conduit. It's a horizontal pull as opposed to a vertical one. I don't see any
practical difference for hoisting and attaching the grip to the tower. It'll
take the weight and then you can use some kind of cable-to-tower attachment
method.
>  
>  They are a small stainless clamp of the proper size with a
>  rubber inner boot. The clamp goes around the cable and also
>  attaches to the tower with a round member clamp, similar to
>  a hose clamp. Use one every 5 feet or so and it will last forever.
>  
    If you're referring to the 'insulated hanger', p/n 11662-2. They are
$23.50 each. 

    There are a number of ways of attaching the cable to the tower including
special hangers. For Heliax provided by Motorola, you are given a bundle of
#14 THHN wire to twist around the cable where it attaches to the tower. Not
very sophisticated but it works FB. Other methods including tie wraps, tape,
etc. are also useful.

>  I've seen the statement that the Kellums are used on all
>  professional towers. Guess I haven't seen any of them, because
>  all commercial quality towers use the cable clamps. 

    A hoisting grip, anyway.
  
>  In terms od cost, it will probably run $25.00 for enough clamps
>  to hang 150' of hardline.

      That's good for one clamp anyway. 

      While this has been an apples and oranges discussion between hoisting
grips and hangers, both devices should be used for proper cable installation.
This becomes more important as the cables get bigger than RG-8 as the dead
weight of the 150 feet of 1 inch cable under discussion can weigh one-pound-
per-foot or more.

73,  Steve  K7LXC

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