Let me add a comment to Steve's otherwise fine advice:
I use #14 THHN solid, insulated wire for all my cabling on the tower.
Since most of my cables are LDF-4-50A (1/2 inch hardline), I twist the
THHN around the cable TWICE and then run the ends around a leg and
through an existing hole in the tower leg. My tower has angle legs and
holes every foot or so, so its easy for me to attach the cable every 4
feet. I pull the cable tight, close to the leg so that the #14 THHN not
only holds it on the leg, it holds the weight of the cable as well.
That's why I use two twists around the cable. Sometimes I twist two
cables together with the same THHN, but each cable has two twists on it
with the same THHN wire.
I do the same with my RG-8 type cables.
I also do bring the cables up inside the tower. This makes climbing
easier and does provide a Faraday shield. It's slightly more difficult
to install, but the resulting installation is much neater.
I use black or blue # 14 THHN cable so it doesn't show up when looking
at the tower. This cable comes in 500 ft rolls at electrical supply
shops.
Bill, N3RR
K7LXC@aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 98-10-30 07:15:55 EST, brian_smithson@vds.com writes:
>
> > My question is, what are the best ways to route and support
> > feedlines and control cables on a tower like this?
>
> The traditional approach is to tape them all to a single leg. Then they're
> out of the way when you're climbing on the other two legs. THIS is the only
> real use for that cheap 3/$1 electrical tape.
>
> Another mehtod is to use 8-10 inch long pieces of #14 or #16 insulated
> house wire. Just twist them on. They're easily removeable when adding or
> subtracting cables. The single leg here also.
>
> I don't like them coming up through the tower - they're a REAL PAIN to
> install and remove. The only advantages are aesthetics (eye of the beholder,
> etc.) and the the tower would act as a Faraday shield when it comes to
> lightning strikes.
>
> Professional towers have the cables running down a face with each cable
> attached individually to the braces. Looks really cool but it's a lot of work,
> extra hardware, etc.
>
> Cheers, Steve K7LXC
>
> --
> FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
> Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
> Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
> Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
> Search: http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm
--
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
Search: http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm
|