[TowerTalk] Titanix V160e Failure

[Stephen Reichlyn]

Hi, Bruce:

I have a Titanex V80E installed on the end of my pier here on the Isle of 
Palms, SC. A
Nor'easter blew through here Sunday with sustained winds of 30-45 and gusts
of 60 for several hours overnight.

On Monday morning, I found that my antenna was bent just below the top guy
lines at a place where two sections of the same diameter are butted together
with what looked like an aluminum (rather than Titanium/Aluminum alloy) inner
splice.

Like you, I am surprised by this failure especially in a wind condition for 
which
this antenna should handle with no problem when properly guyed (which it is 
according
to Titanex's specifications).

My problem should be fairly easy to fix once I take the entire antenna down 
to the
ground but, like you, am a somewhat unhappy camper.

Good luck.

73,
Steve AA4V

At 11:47 AM 3/1/05 +0000, you wrote:
>On February 23, Jim Neiger (N6TJ) and I succeeded in raising a new Titanix
>V160e into the air.  This antenna was shipped express air freight all the
>way from Munich to my home on Little Cayman Island.   Counting the rather
>stiff purchase price, the shipping costs, and the Caymanian customs duty,
>over $3000 was invested in this antenna.  Yesterday, exactly 12 days later,
>the top 3 sections of this antenna
>came crashing to the ground.  Those top 3 sections are all 18mm in diameter,
>and total 5.73m in length.  The break happened immediately above a section
>of 20mm tubing into which this 18mm tubing telescopes.  There is a piece of
>approximately 6mm diameter nylon rope running through those top 3 sections
>to try to dampen vibrations.
>
>Ironically, I talked with Alex, 4L5A/D4B before acquiring this antenna and
>Al mentioned that he had the same antenna but the top section of his had
>broken off.  He talked with somebody at the factory, though, and they
>assured him this problem had been solved.  My hunch is that they simply
>added the nylon rope to the materials list and hoped that would solve the
>problem.  Whatever the case, it would appear I experienced the very same
>problem with this antenna that Al had.  I have taken the best picture I
>could of the break and posted it at http://www.qsl.net/zf2nt/V160e.htm.  If
>anybody knows anything about the alloy used in the construction of this
>antenna and can determine why/how this break occurred from that picture, I
>would very much appreciate hearing about it.  While I could splice this top
>section back onto the antenna fairly easily, I don't see any reason why a
>similar failure wouldn't happen in another 12 days.  Given the cost of this
>antenna and the effort that went into installing it, that doesn't leave me a
>very happy camper.
>
>Bruce, ZF2NT
>
>_______________________________________________
>
>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

Stephen Reichlyn
Ryan Scientific, Inc.
CALL toll-free in North America
888-884-4911
843-884-4911 ext 302
843-884-5568 (fax)
www.ryansci.com