[TowerTalk] Guy Tensioning

[Steve Maki]

I've never owned a Loos, but have owned a couple Penn-Tech commercial 
tensionmeters.

I just looked at the chart for the TM-800 to see what could be gleaned 
related to the 7 strand vs 19 strand scenario that could be applied to 
the general case, and I have to admit I'm a little confused.

In the case of 9/16", the table converges at 3500 lbs which is exactly 
10% of breaking strength (IOW, gauge deflection for 7 strand is the same 
as for 19 strand).

But for 5/8" wire, the curves never converge (7 strand always creates 
higher gauge deflection than 19 strand for a given tension).

The TM-800 is designed for 3/16" to 3/4" wire, but 9/16" and 5?8" are 
the only two sizes on the chart for which both 7 strand and 19 strand 
defection values are given.

Maybe this is a mistake, I'll look into it a bit more.

-Steve K8LX

On 10/23/2016 19:04 PM, StellarCAT wrote:

> I was surprised at this thread! I hadn't been aware of any previous
> threads related to the use of Loos gauges nor did I know they were not
> meant for EHS cable!
>
> Someone had said "when you get up to 10% tension they read roughly
> right" (paraphrasing but I believe the essence is correct) ... well that
> isn't so!
>
> I JUST finished running the cables today for my new installation... 148'
> rotating tower with 6 large monobanders on it ... Looks REALLY sweet ...
> anyway the guy doing the tower work, Benny out of Tenn. (great guy -
> great work - great prices) brought a Penn-Tech gauge with. It IS
> designed for EHS ... I used it to set the top guy which is 5/16" (EHS
> and 1/2 philly) ... so I took his gauge and compared it to my Loos model
> B (and to his Loos PT2) ... the Loos B read ~630# on the 1/4" EHS guys
> (middle and bottom sets) ... the PT2 read 680# ... the PT ... it read
> 400! 4 0 0 !!!
>
> In my humble opinion that is scary far from where I THOUGHT it was -
> like more than 50% of the actual rating shy of the desired tension spot
> (660# with ~ 68degrees).
>
> WOW. I was blown away. All the 7 years I had my loaded tower up in AZ I
> had the same tension - so it too was under tensioned.
>
> So I'm going to adjust the bottom set of guys using the PT and then once
> it is set correctly at 660# I will then compare it to the LOOS and I'll
> then have a comparison point I can pass along to anyone using the Loos
> (model B)
>
> Gary
> K9RX
>
> [I've been working on this project for 18 months - poured concrete in
> December of last year ... FINALLY have it all up. I'm still not done as
> the crane got canceled for our scheduled time and I was concerned it
> would get pushed out too far so I asked if they'd do Saturday - w/o OT
> since they canceled it - they said YES and we had 9 hours of listening
> to that diesel engine yesterday ... so because of the rush I still have
> to install the terminal boxes at the base of the 2 towers and wire
> everything up (5 miles of control wire) but I was able today to just put
> a power supply at the base of the antenna and use my SARK to check and
> all 6 antennas - SWEET! Including a modified Optibeam OB4-40 that is
> near perfect]
>
>
>
> -----Original Message----- From: K7LXC at aol.com
> Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2016 8:27 PM
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Guy Tensioning
>
>>  The calibration chart that comes with the instrument is correct only
> for the 19-strand wire rope it was designed for, which is what they use for
> sailboat rigging.  The stiffness of the cable  determines the reading  as
> much as does the tension.  The chart that comes with the gauge is WAY
> off and
> totally useless for EHS guy cable.  I'm sure it would be just as  far off,
> if not more so, with phillystran.
>
>>  With the two pieces  tied together, they both have the same tension, so
> the tension reading on the  wire rope has to  be the same as the tension on
> the EHS, thus allowing me  to make up an accurate chart for 3/16 EHS.  That
> same procedure would work  equally well with phillystran; I would make up a
> separate chart for  each.
>
> Howdy --
>
>    Here's my 2 cents worth again. I conducted the same  test only I also
> had a segment of HPTG4000 inline and you proved my point, which  is that
> they
> all read the same. As a wire rope has tension increased on it, it  becomes
> more rod-like regardless of type of material. So what do your charts  say?
> Are they similar or what? Are you dealing with a couple of percent or
> something else? Inquiring minds want to know.
>
>    BTW the Loos PT-2 will only measure HPTG4000 due to  the size of the
> jacket but it does fine on it.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve    K7LXC