[TowerTalk] Yaesu Rotors

[Pete Smith]

At 10:52 AM 6/11/00 EDT, K7LXC@aol.com wrote:
>
>In a message dated 06/11/2000 5:57:57 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
>w1wef@yahoo.com writes:
>
>> Thought I'd add a couple words about them. I have two
>>  G1000SDX's on the tower and love them...much nicer in
>>  many respects than the old tailtwisters I used to use
>>  and repair all the time. I turn a 40-2CD and TH6 with
>>  one.
>
>      Ouch - you luck out again, Jack. Your array is almost 2700 ft-lbs of 
>K-Factor/Effective Moment. The G-1000 is rated at 2020 ft-lbs.

The K-factor is, at best, an unrealistic worst-case approximation of the
real load on the rotator.  The only array it is accurate for is one that
has all the weight, including the boom, located beyond the ends of the boom
at the turning radius!  Ever seen one of those?  The real moment is the sum
of all the weights and lever arms, from 0 feet out to the end of the boom.

I had to giggle at the example on Texas Towers' web page -- where an
antenna came in 30-40 lb over the rated K-factor of the G-800, so they
recommended the next bigger rotator, at a cost increment of $160.

Of course, the rotator manufacturers will use such a rating figure, because
it will often result in buying the next size up the scale, resulting in a
lower risk of service calls and/or unhappy customers. 

73, Pete Smith N4ZR
n4zr@contesting.com 



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