[TowerTalk] Sad day - W9ZUC tower accident

[Jim Thomson]

Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 10:33:08 -0600
From: Chris <EZRhino at fastmovers.biz>
To: "towertalk at contesting.com reflector" <TOWERTALK at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Sad day - W9ZUC tower accident

Yeah that's it!

If the spring is at the top instead of the bottom then it serves as a shock load device to "cushion" the impact if you do fall.

Chris
KF7P

##  Not a chance !  the spring + turnbuckle go at the base of the tower.  The spring is to keep the cable taut. 
To cushion the impact, in some cases, heavy duty flat spring steel, formed into an inverted U  is used at the top of the
tower..with one leg of the U bolted to the tower..and the cable terminating on the 2nd leg of the U.   Even on those
systems, IF somebody falls, the U shaped spring steel is tossed..and replaced.  It’s a one time use only  device. 

##  Big difference between a static load and a dynamic load.  Jump off your kitchen table onto some bathroom scales,
and get somebody else to take the instantaneous  weight readings.   They will at least triple your body weight. 

Jim    VE7RF