[TowerTalk] Failed Limit Switches on Crank-up Tower

Joe Carvalho joe.carvalho@wcom.com
Tue, 26 Oct 1999 07:36:17 -0600


to answer your age old question...

Things will definitely go BOOMI! in the night. :)

--joe 

DE KR6NA

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Jeff Singer <k2kv@reallybig.com>
To: Tower-Talk Reflector <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 1999 9:32 AM
Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] Failed Limit Switches on Crank-up Tower


> 
> So, this discussion begs the question - what will actually happen if the
> limit switches fail, at top and/or bottom??
> 
> 73 de Jeff K2KV
> k2kv@reallybig.com
> 
> http://reallybig.com - "The Complete Resource for All Web Builders"
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
> > [mailto:owner-towertalk@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Dick Flanagan
> > Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 1999 12:54 AM
> > To: Frederick Toth; Tower-Talk Reflector
> > Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Failed Limit Switches on Crank-up Tower
> >
> >
> >
> > >Today I replaced the limit switches on my 72 foot motorized crank-up
> > >tower from US Tower. The lower one failed first, fortunately.  (The
> > >limit switches automatically turn the tower motor off when the tower
> > >telescopes to its limits - up or down). When I opened up them up, I
> > >found that they were very badly corroded   - to the extent of what you
> > >might see if a battery had leaked inside them. I was surprised to see
> > >the extent of corrosion because I have owned the tower for less than
> > >three years.
> > >
> > >Has anyone found a way to get a longer lifespan out of these switches?
> > >They cost $130 each to replace.
> >
> > I had the exact same problem with one of my limit switches, but Bruce
> > at US Tower was nice enough to replace it under warranty.
> >
> > What had happened in my case was the tower had lain on its side over a
> > rainy winter before I could install it.  With the tower on its side,
> > one of the switches had its control cable (and the hold through which
> > it enters the switch) pointing skyward.  Rain water ran down the cable,
> > through the hole and completely corroded the inside of the switch.
> >
> > I have added an internal inspection of both limit switches to my annual
> > inspection routine and have taken care to waterproof where the cable
> > enters the switchs.
> >
> > 73, Dick
> >
> > --
> > Dick Flanagan W6OLD CFII Minden, Nevada DM09db (South of Reno)
> > Visit http://www.qsl.net/cvrc/
> >
> >
> >
> > --
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> >
> 
> 
> --
> FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
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> 


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