[Towertalk] Grips vs. Clamps (was Huh?!?)

[n4kg@juno.com]

I'd guess that I have around 200 of the 'smaller' insulators
installed in my 3/16 inch guys with PLP Dead Ends (guy grips)
on 7 towers ranging in height from 40 ft to 135 ft.

I 're-form' the radius of the grips such that the sides of the U
are a snug fit in the grooves of the insulators.  I do this by
engaging a couple of turns near the painted stripes and tapping
the bottom of the U with a few whacks from a rubber mallot
while placing the side of the U on a piece of wood.

I KNOW, this is a violation of the 'Prime Directive'.  OTOH,
My oldest towers have been up over 25 years and the newest
approaching 10(?).  ALL have survived estimated 90 MPH winds
that took out dozens of 80 ft trees in my woods.

Tom  N4KG

On Fri, 08 Nov 2002 20:59:05 -0500 Zyg Skrobanski <af4mp@mindspring.com>
writes:
> At 06:25 PM 11/8/02 -0500, you wrote:
> >Texas Towers sells them for $5-$6 a piece
> >http://www.texastowers.com/mischard.htm
> >
> >Note that they were described as costing little "in the grand 
> scheme" - they
> >are still a significant expense if you break your guys up a lot 
> with
> >insulators.
> 
> Interesting - as I'm just about to install a guyed tower with 500D
> insulators breaking up the 3/16" guys.
> 
> Texas Towers web site gives the price for a 500D insulator as $2.95, 
> and
> 3/16" cable clamps at $0.55 each.
> 
> The web site also provides the price for 3/16" grips as $5.50 each, 
> BUT
> indicates that the 3/16" grip should be used with a larger 
> insulator, the
> 502 priced at $5.50.
> 
> So, if I compare the price of installing just one insulator (the 
> 502) with
> grips (i.e 2 grips) the total is $15.50 versus the smaller insulator 
> (the
> 500D) and six clamps where the total is $6.25.  Going with the grips 
> is
> 148% more expensive, not exactly an insignificant difference!
> --
> Zyg AF4MP
> Roswell GA USA
> 

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