[TowerTalk] Which type of cable for a crank-up tower?

[K7LXC at aol.com]

In a message dated 12/2/2011 3:39:02 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
towertalk-request at contesting.com writes:
 
>  I have an unidentified 65' crank-up tower, believed  to be of English 
origin.  It needs to be recabled.  The existing  (original) cable appears to 
be 5/16", but it might be 8mm or even 7mm (I am  not where the tower is, so I 
can't measure it exactly).  Definitely  bigger than 1/4".  The tower lives 
in a very salty, island  climate.

>  I am trying to figure out what type of cable to use  - not which size, 
but which material and construction.

>  The  easiest thing to find that seems appropriate is 5/16" 7x19 
galvanized  steel.

>  But, I have read that these towers usually use 6x19  LC (linen core) - 
which I can find in plain steel, but not in  galvanized.


    Read where? I haven't heard of it - especially  when it comes to 
towers. 
 
    All USA crank-ups that I know of use common  7x19" galvanized. Since 
the original is unidentified, I'd suggest  following the overwhelming use on 
Ameriacan crank-ups and use the 7x19 of  whatever size you need. 

>  1) Is galvanized the way to go in  this situation?
 
    Only if it's going to be installed outdoors.  (That's a joke, son.) Of 
course use galvanized. 

>  2) Any  sense of which construction is most appropriate?  I assume 7x19 
would be  best if I can't find the 6x19 LC.
 
    Yes. The 6x19 might be an English standard. It  sure isn't the US 
standard. 
 
Cheers & GL, 
Steve    K7LXC
TOWER TECH