> Using three separate insulators, one in each leg of a
>> guyed tower, is about
>> the WORST possible approach.
I have several towers using 6-8 inch diameter power line ceramic insulators at
the base. Any one of these would support the tower, but using three meant I
could use one under each leg rather than having to reinforce the standard steel
plate on a BPC-25G or BPC-55G.
The bottom of the insulators is attached to a second steel plate that sits on a
pier pin, so that gives some "flex" to the system and allows for rotation of
the tower in high winds. My 160-meter tower has been in service more than 8
years, through some 60-80 mph windstorms. No sign of cracking or deteroriation
of the insulators.
To test the original insulators, I took a spare, cracked one and put it between
a couple of boards, then drove over it with my Jeep a few times.
Some pix of these at www.aa1k.us under "towers"
YMMV but this works for me.
73/Jon AA1K
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