[TowerTalk] Need install a BRAKE to protect antenna and rotator...

[J. Hunt]

With those long Spiderbeam spreaders, a large torque force is applied to the antenna / rotor / tower.

A rotor with a built in wedge-brake is suggested (or alternative rotor) featuring a complete stop action when applied voltage is removed.
The Hy-Gain Ham4 is a very good solution.

A "friction-brake" would not be a wise solution.

Thanks n 73,
James
ki5dq

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On Fri, 4/1/16, Douglas Ruz / CO8DM <co8dm at frcuba.co.cu> wrote:

 Subject: [TowerTalk] Need install a BRAKE to protect antenna and rotator...
 To: "'TT'" <towertalk at contesting.com>
 Date: Friday, April 1, 2016, 10:38 PM
 
 Hi,
 
 I installed a modify spiderbeam few days ago.
 Spreaders are 7m long because I added 2 elem (shortened) on 40m.
 
 Few days ago, during a windy day, both U bolts with saddle clamps in the rotator fail...the antenna
 mast (aluminum tube) rotate inside the saddle and broke both coax cables.
 
 I quickly tie a pipe between the center hub and one leg of to tower until I find a solution.
 
 Maybe I need a Brake mechanism to protect the rotator. Some kind of mechanism to operate with a rope from the
 bottom of tower.
 
 It is very interesting...the center hub is connected with an U bolt with saddle clamp to the alum mast...I think
 strong winds will turn the center hub, so, I need protect the center hub too.
 
 Any idea ?
 
 Thanks,
 
 Doug,
 CO8DM
 
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