[Antennas] Automotive battery blanket

[bill]

Never heard of that.
Sounds like the perfect solution.

I just read your email a few moments ago, It's 02:01 am (CST) on 
Thursday morning a balmy 14 degrees out but going down.

I knew there was a better solution.

Thanks guys....just searched and there is a storeless than 2 miles from 
me with them instock.

And with my rotor being at the base of the tower, it will be a easy 
install....





On 2014-02-26 6:08 PM, Sam Ferris wrote:
> Tyr an automotive style AC battery blanket wrapped around the rotor.  Needs
> an AC line up the tower on a switch in the shack, but it works quite well.
> I have used these for years here and it works quite well.
>
> Sam
> VE5SF
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:antennas-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:antennas-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of David
> Sent: February 26, 2014 1:45 PM
> To:antennas at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Antennas] unusual question but....
>
>
> Hi Bill, Happy Wednesday!
>
> Those pipe warmers are UL aren't they? Dangerous? Please elaborate.
>
> I use a small 120VAC light bulb in a small metal cabinet that has things I
> don't want frozen and/or sluggish. Actually, I use two bulbs, just in case
> one burns out and it is cold before I notice the burned-out bulb.
>
> Maybe it is too far to run an extension cord or whatever...but what powers
> the rotor?
>
> Hmmmm.... Use the power for the rotor to power a heater or light bulb. Maybe
> there could be a switch/relay to cut the bulbs out and power the rotor
> whenever the rotor is needed if the current supply is small.
>
> David B.
> W7DBH
>
>
>
> ** Chicagoan, I live a few miles from Ohare Field.
> ** We have had one of the worst winters in a long time.
> ** While this is a recently 'checked out & serviced' rotor, it's really
> ** having a tough time turning my old Wilson Crank up tower.
> ** Slow and sometimes a tad slow to start turning. Once it's gets going and
> ** turning it's better, just those first attempts in the morning.
> ** It is a new cap in the control box. I always keep a spare.
> **
> ** Has anyone come up with a good way to keep them warm?
> ** As you know, the rotor is at the base of the tower and turns the whole
> ** tubular tower. Sort there is some bit of resistant torgue at the start.
> ** I bought one of those small plastic storage bins, carefully cut it so
> ** that it fit around the rotor portion and the bearings.
> ** Just to keep the frozen snow off of the rotor. (I do mean frozen as we
> ** then had a day of freezing rain that put a crust of HARD snow over
> ** everything.
> **
> ** We are back down to near zero again and expecting more.
> ** Too late for this winter but has anyone ever come up with some sort of
> ** way to keep a rotor warm. Those electric water pipe thawing gizmos seem
> ** dangerous.
> ** Anybody???
> **
>
>

-- 

A lot of history isn't fit to repeat itself.
---------------------------
W9OL-Bill H. in Chicagoland