[TowerTalk] Phillystran Tension Gage

[john at kk9a.com]

Comparing the Loos readings on stainless steel cable vs EHS is not checking
the gauge's accuracy. You would need to tension the EHS with a dynamometer
and then check it with the Loos gauge. The Loos is an inexpensive gauge made
for sail boats however it's better than using nothing for guy tension.

John KK9A 


K9MA k9ma wrote:

I can't find it now, but a couple years ago I found some calibration 
data comparing the Loos PT-2 on 3/16 EHS compared to the SS wire rope it 
was designed for. I recall that the PT-2 read perhaps 10 percent high on 
the EHS. (The true tension was lower than the PT-2 indicated.) Since EHS 
is very stiff, that makes sense. However, K7LXC, in "Up the Tower", made 
a similar measurement, and found little difference in the readings. 
These measurements were all made with a piece of 19 strand 3/16 SS in 
series with 7 strand EHS and a commercial tension gauge.

If anyone succeeds in finding those measurements, let me know.

My Phillystran guys have the usual EHS tails near the ground, so I just 
measured the tension on the EHS. I'm not sure why anyone would want to 
use Phillystran all the way to the ground.

73,
Scott