Chris,
I've got the old wt-51 manual from Tri-ex, dated May 20, 1983. Specs are:
Windload - 'approximately 9 sq ft of antenna area at 50 mph indicated by
engineering analysis'
Deadload - 150 lbs maximum
weight - 417 lbs in steel
Nothing about the size of the section walls (1/8" vs 1/16") but you can compare
the overall weight to the new one to get some thoughts.
I had the old wt-51 up with a KLM beam... think it was about 10 sq ft... can't
remember the model. The guy I got it from had it up for 15 years in Colorado
with no problems but I had it fold over at the 2nd section in a freak storm
here in South Dakota. The wx guys said we were having gusts up to 70 mph but I
was here at the house and I'd swear we had a microburst of way more than that.
I've not been in many storms but the burst that hit us made me think the house
was coming down.
Anyway... I already had the wt-51 base in the ground so I bought a new wt-51.
I currently have a little a4s beam on it but am planning on a steppir db18 in
the future. I'll be interested in comments from the guys on the list about it.
I've got a lot of paper work on the old tower.... drawings, instruction manual,
etc. Its a big pile of stuff so hard to copy but I can answer any questions
offline if you'd like.
Gary Slagel
Hot Springs, SD
N0SXX
http://marina.fortunecity.com/sanpedro/351
________________________________
From: Chris Merchant KA1LMR <ka1lmr@yahoo.com>
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 9:16 PM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Tri-Ex W-51 Vs. Tashjian WT-51 specs?!
I have seen reviews with these towers lumped together but after some research
after I bought a used W-51 and was told to use instructions and specs on the
current production of the WT-51.
Well I talked on the phone to someone at the company voicing some concerns
after finding a picture of this tower bent in half google WT- 51 tower under
images this was K8MN tower. the guy at the company was shocked to see there
bent over tower.
then the distinction this was the older Tower.
So, I asked for the specs on the older version of the tower to see if it was
the same . He could find no specs for me Just some diagrams parts list dating
back 2nd 1972 I didn't realize the towers dated back that far.
I confirmed one major difference the top section on the new towers are 1" with
1/8 wall but the older W - 51 has only a 16th wall!
If anyone has some Specs on the old tower please pass it along the new tower
specs says 14 sq ft at 85 mph winds. But the tech on the phone is saying
with top section being 1/2 the wall thickness of the new would cut the the
wind sq ft rating down to only 5-6 sq ft! so before you put up a large HF
beams and few vhf boomers if you have the older W 51 , I don't think 1970's
specifications have it rated at 14 sq ft @ 85 mph wind as the ones are?
So I will be guying my "free standing" W - 51 at the top and middle sections
and a large frame bracket to the house at the 20 Ft level , 2.5 x 2.5 x 5 Ft
concrete foundation with re-bar cage and pray it does not come down.
I plan to have 3 ele steppir with addon 8 sq ft total and 10 ft steel mast
with antenna at the top with 3 feet of mast in the tower plus the rotator.
thoughts on whether this will be adequate and specs on the older tower will be
appreciated.
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