[UK-CONTEST] Steel versus poly rope guys?

[Alex GM3ZBE]

Thanks to all for the very useful advice and info.

Alex GM3ZBE

 

 

  _____  

From: G3RAU at aol.com [mailto:G3RAU at aol.com] 
Sent: 27 January 2008 20:46
To: alex at gm3zbe.plus.com
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Steel versus poly rope guys?

 

Alex,

 

Steel is far more proof against garden shears, hedge trimmers, mischievous
children, and careless adults on ride on lawn mowers. I once accidentally
cut through a rope guy, not funny at all.  Steel will also tolerate repeated
friction rubbing from say a tree branch in a way that non steel will not.

 

Versatower guys specify either 6/19 (plastic core + 6 strands galvanised
steel), or 7/19 (7strands galvanised steel).  (The days of rope core &
soaking in oil are, it seems, history, its now plastic cores only).  7/19 is
stronger but harder to work with as it wont bend so easily.  All the avove
are usually covered in black PVC.  Work out your guy loading at 120mph with
ice on the mast & antenna, then buy appropriately and sleep soundly at
night. Also remember that a guy stake in the ground is not man enough in an
exposed area, dig  holes and fill with concrete if you have a big mast. I
believe in over-engineering !

 

Black pvc covered multistrand galvanised steel wire, with eyes spliced in to
your exact measurements, can be purchased quite reasonably from wire rope
assembly suppliers. Some of these are also  theatrical stage suppliers, and
their products have to be very well made to meet stage insurance
requirements.

 

If you need to break up resonances in long steel guy wires you can use
insulators or a short section of non metallic guy.

 

You should also consider where lightening will end up with steel guys, it
may well decide to go down a guy, so earth them well.

 

Have fun

73

Derek G3RAU