[TowerTalk] Guy Cable

[K7LXC at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/14/2007 4:36:06 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
towertalk-request at contesting.com writes:

>  My understanding is that EHS is "galvanized steel cable",  which is not the
same as wire rope. 
 
    Rope is "a strong, thick line or cord, commonly  one composed of twisted 
or braided strands of hemp, flax, or the like, or of  wire or other material". 
And technically, it's only cordage above one inch in  circumference and below 
10 (bigger-around than that is a cable). 
 
    Wire rope is a generic term used to describe just  what it is. In amateur 
circles we tend to use several different terms for the  same thing; e.g. guy 
wires, guy cables, etc. 
 
>  While they might have the same breaking strength,  other
characteristics may be quite different, such as abrasion  resistance.


    Umm, I'm not sure about the abrasion resistance  but each wire rope is 
characterized by the material, its lay (either right or  left), the number of 
strands and the number of strand bundles that make up the  completed wire rope; 
most crank-ups use 7x19 wire rope because all of the  small strands make it 
easily bendable and flexible so it can pass  over pulleys many times without any 
damage.

>  Rohn specs call  for EHS, not wire rope. I wouldn't fool around with 
anything
other than  what the spec calls for.


Yep - the LXC Prime Directive still applies: DO  what the manufacturer says. 
 
    BTW there are 7-8 different grades of wire rope  for a given size; e.g. 
1/4" - galvanized, utility grade, stainless steel, EHS,  etc. - and it's really 
important to use the right grips with the right wire  rope. They are NOT 
interchangeable. 

Cheers,
Steve    K7LXC
TOWER TECH 



 
<BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> AOL now offers free 
email to everyone.  Find out more about what's free from AOL at 
http://www.aol.com.