[TowerTalk] anchor failure from corrosion?

[Tom Frenaye]

I hadn't ever heard of guy anchors on ham radio towers failing because of corrosion  I'm wondering if it's something all of us need to worry about - anyone with firsthand experience?

                -- Tom


>  HELPFUL ADVICE ON GUY ANCHOR INSPECTIONS (CGC #570)
>
>  Over the years there have been numerous instances of towers
>falling due to guy anchor failure, with guy wires hanging on to
>as little as 1/4" of remaining shaft before failure.
>
>  As a Tower Safety and Rescue trainer for our company, I have
>taken trainees to a guyed tower to see the "point of daylight."
>This is where the guy anchor meets the dirt, and is the most
>likely place to reveal corrosion just below the surface, as shown
>in the diagram of CGC #570.  Dig down about 6-12 inches and you
>may likely find the beginnings of corrosion.  This inspection
>should be performed regularly if you own a guyed tower.
>
>  The best way to prevent or delay the corrosion process is
>through the use of a "Sacrificial Anode" - or Cathodic Protection.
>You can see the process of corrosion and how it can be prevented
>in these instructional animations courtesy of www.anchorguard.com:
>
>  Corrosion: http://www.anchorguard.com/images/Corrosion.gif
>  Protection: http://www.anchorguard.com/images/protection.gif
>
>  Timothy H. Lynch, mailto:tlynch at w-t-s.com
>  Western Technical Services

>                      THE CGC COMMUNICATOR
>                            CGC #572
>                    Tuesday,  April 29, 2003
>                             ________
>
>               Robert F. Gonsett, W6VR, Publisher
>                       <rgonsett at ieee.org>
>
>           Stephen H. Blodgett, W7RNA, Letters Editor
>                  mailto:steve at earthsignals.com
>
>    Copyright 2003, Communications General® Corporation (CGC)



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