[Boatanchors] Guy Wire Insulator Placement

[Jim Wilhite]

Every aluminum tower specification I have seen uses 50 mph for their wind 
load design point.  The older steel designs used 75 or 90 mph.  That would 
make a big difference especially when we hams tend to overload a tower up on 
top.

Jim
W5JO

----- Original Message ----- 



> What I am using is personal experience. In each case where I know of 
> problems with an aluminum tower, the tower was installed using the 
> manufacturer's recommended procedures. In each case the wind load on the 
> tower was less than the maximum rating of the tower. In each case, the 
> tower "buckled" at about the half-way point. That is, there were no 
> problems with the base installation.
>
> These towers were installed in north Texas (Dallas, Texas, area) where the 
> wind speed does, on occasion, get above 70 mph. In fact, every few years, 
> the wind speed can go over 90 mph. These are "straight line" winds and not 
> tornadoes. A tornado, of course, is a completely different matter.
>
> Obviously, there are different manufacturers of aluminum towers and, 
> probably, different specifications that must be met in different 
> countries. As such, I have no idea as to if the aluminum towers sold in 
> Australia are the same as those that were sold in this area. But, I do 
> stand on my comments based on my experiences.
>
> In my professional experience as a telecommunications consultant, I have 
> had quite a number of towers installed from less than 100-feet to over 
> 500-feet. As such, I do believe that I do have at least a "little" 
> experience with different tower types. Those towers ranged from guyed to 
> self-supporting and I would never recommend using an aluminum tower!
>
> Glen, K9STH
>
>