[TowerTalk] New Conduits

[Steve Jones]

Thanks to all for your comments on my new conduits.  I'm now thinking the 
LDF5-50 sounds like it's hardly worth the hassle for a few tenths of a dB at 
30 MHz.  Do many of you have experience with LMR 600 coax?  Any suggestions 
regarding suppliers and/or connectors?

73,
Steve
N6SJ


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Jones" <n6sj at earthlink.net>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 2:14 PM
Subject: New Conduits


>I need to install underground conduits to my new HDX-589 crank-up tower. 
>The distence between my garage wall and the tower foundation is about 125'. 
>I plan to put in straight conduits with a 90 degree sweep at each end where 
>they come up out of the ground.  I plan 4 #10 copper conductors in a 1" PVC 
>conduit for 220VAC power to the raising winch.  For the coax I'm hoping to 
>score some local surplus 7/8" LDF5-50 heliax.  I have been thinking of 
>using one 4" conduit for three runs of the 7/8" heliax, and a second 4" 
>conduit for various control cables (RF switches, rotor cables, SteppIR 
>control, etc.).  So I'd have two 4" conduits and one 1" conduit in the 
>trench. Those of you who have experience with such installations, please 
>tell me:
>
> 1.  Are these conduit diameters adequate for my proposed loading?  I have 
> put in 4" PVC water pipe and it's unwieldy stuff to work with, so if I can 
> get by with smaller conduit pipes I'd prefer to.
>
> 2.  What is a good source for electrical boxes to terminate these cables 
> above ground at each end?
>
> 3.  Is there a better way to control the rotor, switches, SteppIR etc. by 
> using Ethernet in the conduit and local AC power at the tower?
>
> 4.  Is there something better than Ivory liquid for a cable lubricant?
>
> 5.  What have I not mentioned that I need to address?
>
> I appreciate any and all advice!
>
> 73,
>
> Steve Jones
> N6SJ
>