[TowerTalk] Equalizer plate dimensions

[David Aslin G3WGN]

Understood John.  The tower is an industrial version of a Versatower, the most common tower type in UK.  All Versatowers are guyed.
The particular towers I have are trailer mounted for temporary cell-site use, made I believe for France Telecom. They are much larger than the typical skinny Versatowers that are usually available here.  There are guy points on all sections. 

Perhaps an engineer can explain to me the reasoning behind the use of equalizer plates.  It makes intuitive sense to me that under wind stress conditions, since on a crank up tower the relative positions of the sections and hence the guying points on the tower will move relative to each other, that this relative movement is compensated somehow. But intuition can be wrong.
73, David G3WGN  M6O


-----Original Message-----
From: john at kk9a.com [mailto:john at kk9a.com] 
Sent: 03 August 2018 21:18
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Equalizer plate dimensions

It has been a long time since I have looked at a crank-up tower however I seem to recall heavier steel that went around the top of each section. If that is the case I see no reason for an equalizer plate plus adding plates may prohibit the tower from completely retracting. If it is really meant for guys, perhaps there are attachment points. I am hoping that the sections somehow lock before tightening the guys.

John KK9A

To:	Tower Talk <towertalk at contesting.com>
Subject:	[TowerTalk] Equalizer plate dimensions
From:	David Aslin G3WGN <david at aslinvc.com>
Date:	Thu, 2 Aug 2018 20:43:45 +0000

Hi Towertalkians,
I have a pair of telescopic towers that are similar in size to a US Tower HDX-589.  The manufacturer specifies guying at 3 levels, but does not provide equalizer plates.  I'm mindful of the Towertalk prime directive, but as the manufacturer is no longer in business, I can't consult them on this topic.
Seems to me that equalizer plates are a wise precaution at this high wind location, but I'm open to the wisdom of the Towertalk crowd.
In order to fabricate some 3-way equalizer plates I need dimensions of, for example, the Rohn equalizer plates.  Would any kind soul care to measure theirs or provide a specsheet that shows plate thickness, hole sizes and placements?
The Rohn catalog is silent on the key points!
73, David G3WGN  M6O