[TowerTalk] Securing The Cables to the Tower

[Roger K8RI on Tower]

It depends on how you install them.  Leave a "tail" instead of cutting the 
tie flush.  It's not quite as neat, but works well.  Make the tail long 
enough and you can loop it under the bundle.  Nearly all cable ties have a 
"latch" that can be released using a small screwdriver although it is a two 
hand operation.

In they are relatively inexpensive, unless you purchase the really good ones 
from an electrical supplier, most trim the "tail" flush with the latch which 
pretty much eliminates the reuse issue.  I've found the UV resistant ones at 
the electrical wholesale supply to be quite expensive, plus I don't like the 
idea of the pressure on the cables.

BTW, I did try the big ones a few years ago.  I purchased a whole bunch of 
the big ones listed as UV "resistant" at a swap.  Resistant is a relative 
term as half of them turned hard and broke in one year outside. I was able 
to easily break the rest just by pushing against the strap.  However there 
really are some good UV resistant ones out there, but tape lasts longer, 
unless it gets really hot, then it slips and just makes the cables 
sticky<:-))

With the wire Randy mentions, I'd just wrap it around the bundle two or 
three times and then twice around the leg like a choker.  (the pull tightens 
it and prevents slipping)

I started out to make a cable harness like the ones used on the cell towers. 
It only took one long evening of cutting and drilling to make enough for one 
tower section.  I decided they were far too much work just to look nice.

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

> What works for me is to use insulated solid copper wire as twist ties.
> Makes it relatively easy to add or remove cables after you get the
> original set of cables in place.  If you use plastic cable ties, you
> have to replace them if you add or remove.
>
> 73
> Randy K0EU
>
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