[TowerTalk] Polygon Guy Rods

Sun Sep 8 12:01:37 EDT 2019

Thanks for the great replies !
I reckon I will err on the side of caution and use Phillystran.
For the folks using it, do you go by the EHS Comparison chart ? ie: The
HPTG4000I replaces 3/16 EHS and the  HPTG6700Ireplaces 1/4"
Or is there a rule of thumb to Upsize ? What size are most using on
Rotating towers ? Thanks again, Ron, WV4P

On Fri, 6 Sep 2019 at 13:41, Wayne Kline <w3ea at hotmail.com> wrote:

> John,
>
>
>
> IMHO PhillyStran has it’s place in tower installations  BUT  you must
> consider the site for  abrasion. It and polyrod  will fail  in that
> invroment.
>
>
>
> Even EHS 3/16 , ¼ and  5/16  will fail  under  fallen tree /limb contact…
> Ask BGN  or IPK  At IPK’s QTH the PLP  1/4 “ guy grip was still wrapped
> around the ROHN thimble  BUT the EHS was  pulled out and upon examining the
> EHS the wrap twist was no longer that but pulled  almost straight .  Yes it
> was a BIG tree 36”  dia oak and contacted the top layer of guys mid way ,
> snapping two legs of the R-25  ay 50 ft   resulting in crushing the one
> intact leg  down ( read wrinkles  in the crushed leg then bending it 160
> DEG. Down. And the rest of the tower resting at a 60 deg angle.  I assume
> this is a worse case  senero  Tees and towers do not MIX
>
>
>
> Wayne W3EA
>
>
>
> PS yes we cut the remaining guys and let the tower fall  with the weight
> of the tree    bolt cutters to the rescue
>
>
>
> Sent from Mail <https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
> Windows 10
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces at contesting.com> on behalf of Jon
> Zaimes via TowerTalk <towertalk at contesting.com>
> *Sent:* Friday, September 6, 2019 1:57:44 PM
> *To:* 'Tim Duffy' <k3lr at k3lr.com>; 'Ron WV4P' <wv4ptn at gmail.com>;
> 'towertalk' <TowerTalk at contesting.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [TowerTalk] Polygon Guy Rods
>
> I had my first Phillystran failure here not long ago. It was one of the
> guys
> on my 160-meter (K3LR array!) vertical driven element, and broke when a
> loblolly pine limb fell on it. The limb, which broke off and fell about 10
> feet to hit the guy, later was weighed at about 100 pounds. The Philly had
> been purchased in 1978 and used at four different  QTH's over its 41 year
> life. Phillystran's website says lifespan is 25 or more years; so maybe
> practical lifespan is somewhere in between those numbers. Maybe even a new
> piece would break if such a limb hit it.
>
> Phillystran also is susceptible to chafing if tree limbs come in contact
> with it. I had used a number of pieces which originally were in the clear
> when the towers were installed 20 years ago, but as trees grew limbs came
> into contact and chafed through the outer sheathing. Once the inner Kevlar
> is exposed to UV rays, it may break down. In addition to a major tree
> trimming and removal this year to avoid such contact, I've also replaced
> most of the Phillystran on my seven towers with EHS steel with insulators
> at
> non-resonant lengths.
>
> 73/Jon
>
> Jon P. Zaimes, AA1K
> Tower climber for hire
> http://www.aa1k.us/
> Cell: 302-632-2353
>
> Reviews of AA1K tower work on eham website:
> http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/12922
>
> Hug your favorite tower every day, and always stay connected to it.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Tim Duffy
> Sent: Thursday, September 5, 2019 8:03 PM
> To: 'Ron WV4P' <wv4ptn at gmail.com>; 'towertalk' <TowerTalk at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Polygon Guy Rods
>
> I participated in a group buy of Polygon Rod in the late 1980s. Quite a
> learning curve.
>
> Even UV stabilized is only good for about 10 years - then needs replaced.
> Difficult to work with.
>
> I had one Polygon rod guy break mid span on my 40 meter tower (it was 5
> years old). That was the end.
>
> Just finished this summer getting all of the Polygon rod replaced with
> Phillystran on the tall towers at K3LR. Properly maintained and inspected
> Phillystran with the appropriate preformed line grip terminations should
> last 30 plus years - no breaks or surprises so far with Phillystran.
>
> 73
> Tim K3LR
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
> <towertalk-bounces at contesting.com>] On Behalf Of Ron
> WV4P
> Sent: Thursday, September 5, 2019 7:32 PM
> To: towertalk
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Polygon Guy Rods
>
> Is it still possible to do the group buys on the Polygon pultrusion
> fiberglass rods ? Any Interest ? I have several towers going up soon and
> could use some. Ron WV4P _______________________________________________
>
>
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