[TowerTalk] Obstruction Lighting

Tue Jul 5 16:08:22 EDT 2005

> Just a caution if your approach is "In many jurisdictions, a homeowner can
> do work on their own home without requiring a license, although it will 
> need
> to be inspected."
>
> I did that once.  And guess what - the cost to get the work inspected was
> exactly the same as the cost to have the electrician do the job.  So, I
> suggest you check this in advance in your area.

Ahhh... It doesn't matter who does the work here, it still has to be 
inspected, you still need the permit, and the costs per new circuit are the 
same.  That means, "at least here", you'd have the cost of the licensed 
electrician in addition to the inspection fees.  The only difference would 
be the electrician would normally take care of the permit and notifying the 
electrical inspector.

This sounds like a good example of YMMV <:-))

Roger Halstead (K8RI and ARRL 40 year Life Member)
N833R - World's oldest Debonair CD-2
www.rogerhalstead.com

>
> 73...   Bill K3WA
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jim Lux" <jimlux at earthlink.net>
> To: <paul at w8aef.com>; "Doug Rehman" <rehman at surveil.com>;
> <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2005 1:59 PM
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Obstruction Lighting
>
>
>> At 10:22 AM 7/5/2005, paul at w8aef.com wrote:
>>>I am under the impression that if you run 110 vac to and up the tower the
>>>work has to be done by a licensed electrician.
>>
>> Depends on your jurisdiction.  In many jurisdictions, a homeowner can do
>> work on their own home without requiring a license, although it will need
>> to be inspected.  You may or may not need a permit.
>>
>> Also, sometimes, the regulation is written along the lines of "wiring 
>> must
>> be done in accordance with applicable standards and by qualified
>> persons".  Qualified leaves a lot of wiggle room.  If you're a licensed
>> ham, that presumes you have at least a nodding acquaintance with Ohm's
>> law,
>> etc., and may well be as qualified as anyone else.
>>
>> For instance, many commercial factories and the like have on-site
>> maintenance staff who do the wiring, and they're not necessarily 
>> licensed.
>>
>>
>> There's a difference between licensure in the contracting sense, and
>> certification or licensure in the personal qualifications sense.  A
>> contractor may have a contractor's license, but, in California at least,
>> that's primarily to assure that they know the laws, can meet financial
>> responsibility rules, have a defined presence for service of legal
>> process,
>> etc., and says nothing about competence for the job at hand.
>>
>> California's laws are changing, by the way, so come 1 Jan 2006, things
>> WILL
>> change a bit due to AB1087, signed back in 2002.
>>
>>
>>>Of course if you installation does not have to be inspected.......
>>>
>>>de Paul, W8AEF
>>>
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "Doug Rehman" <rehman at surveil.com>
>>>To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
>>>Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2005 4:06 PM
>>>Subject: [TowerTalk] Obstruction Lighting
>>>
>>>
>>> > Due to my proximity to a small airport, the FAA is requiring
>>> > obstruction
>>> > lighting (L-810 light or lights) on my tower; painting is not required
>>> > though. The tower will be a Tri-Ex LM-354HDSP 54' crank-up with 15' of
>>> > mast
>>> > out the top.
>>> >
>>> > My first decision is where to mount the light(s). I was planning on a
>>> > VHF/UHF vertical on the top of the mast. If I do this, then I'm going
>>> > to
>>> > need two lights since the light couldn't sit on the top of the mast. 
>>> > To
>>> > cut
>>> > the lighting cost in half, I will probably make a sidearm for the
>>> > VHF/UHF
>>> > vertical to mount on pointed downward, thus allowing the light to sit
>>> > on
>>> > the
>>> > top of the mast.
>>> >
>>> > The next decision isn't quite as easy to make. I can use a standard 
>>> > 110
>>> > VAC
>>> > light that costs about $120 or a 12 VDC light that costs $223 
>>> > (Dialight
>>> > model 860-1R03-001 from www.unimar.com). Either option only requires a
>>> > couple of amps.
>>> >
>>> > I will have mast mounted preamps for 6m, 2m, and 70cm mounted at the
>>> > top
>>> > of
>>> > the tower, so I need 12 VDC there anyway. I could run 110 VAC to a 
>>> > NEMA
>>> > box
>>> > with a 12 VDC power supply in it to feed the preamps and use the 110
>>> > VAC
>>> > to
>>> > feed a standard L-810 light. A heavy outdoor extension cord, or
>>> > stranded
>>> > THHN, encased in flexible conduit would be used to run the 110 VAC to
>>> > the
>>> > top. The tower will already have 110 VAC at the base to run the winch.
>>> > Alternatively, I could use the more expensive 12 VDC L-810 light and
>>> > just
>>> > run 12 VDC to the tower top for everything; running the preamps and
>>> > light
>>> > from a trickle charged battery would provide for emergency power.
>>> >
>>> > I'm leaning strongly towards the last choice (all 12 VDC on the 
>>> > tower),
>>> > but
>>> > looking for input from the collective wisdom and experience of the
>>> > group
>>> > before committing.
>>> >
>>> > Thanks,
>>> > Doug
>>> > K4DDR
>>> >
>>> > _______________________________________________
>>> >
>>> > See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", 
>>> > "Wireless
>>> > Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 
>>> > with
>>> > any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>>> >
>>> > _______________________________________________
>>> > TowerTalk mailing list
>>> > TowerTalk at contesting.com
>>> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>>> >
>>> >
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>
>>>See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
>>>Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with
>>>any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>TowerTalk mailing list
>>>TowerTalk at contesting.com
>>>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
>> Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with
>> any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> TowerTalk mailing list
>> TowerTalk at contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless 
> Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with 
> any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> 