[TowerTalk] Guy wire Clamps

[Tom Rauch]

>     You want the saddle on the live, or loadbearing, side of the cable.
>     The 
> 'dead' side is the cut part with an end. The saying is "never saddle a
> dead horse". That is, don't put the saddle on the dead side. Clamp
> capacity is reduced about 40% by installing it backwards. 

Actually the problem is worse than that. While the capacity is 
reduced, you can't make up for it with more clamps! You are at the 
load limit provided by one single backwards clamp when the 
guyline is EHS with coarse strands, even if you use a dozen 
clamps (unless you only snug them against the line).

Reversing the clamp places a round surface against the full load of 
the guyline. That breaks the strands against the rounded clamp 
when the load increases. It makes a nice, although somewhat dull, 
 bolt-cutter when the guyline gets tightened by a sudden load!

I've seen dozens of towers fall from backwards clamps, although 
most were installed by the same fellow.

Never put the rounded end against the guy wire, and never put the 
guy wire (or grip) against a rounded rung on a tower! They all have 
a minimum safe bending radius.
73, Tom W8JI
w8ji@contesting.com

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