The lower limit switch failed on my HDX555 tower... actually the arm which
the tower contacts to activate the switch is held by a set screw, which
loosened, and the switch was not activated as I lowered the tower down.
The tower continued down as far as it could mechanically go.
I raised the tower by hand... I turned the pulley at the motor until the
tower was back at its normal height. Then I straightened and re-tightened
the activator arm.
Finally, I reset the circuit breaker on the 110 V line I have dedicated to
the tower motor, which had blown when the tower hit bottom.
That was about a year ago, and it has been working fine ever since. I raise
and lower the tower once or twice a day, since my city building permit
requires that the tower be "retracted when not in use", and I have a
neighbor who complains when it is left up all the time.
73 all,
John N6ZAE
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Singer <k2kv@reallybig.com>
To: Tower-Talk Reflector <towertalk@contesting.com>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Date: Tuesday, October 26, 1999 8:41 AM
Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] Failed Limit Switches on Crank-up Tower
>
>So, this discussion begs the question - what will actually happen if the
>limit switches fail, at top and/or bottom??
>
>73 de Jeff K2KV
>k2kv@reallybig.com
>
>http://reallybig.com - "The Complete Resource for All Web Builders"
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
>> [mailto:owner-towertalk@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Dick Flanagan
>> Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 1999 12:54 AM
>> To: Frederick Toth; Tower-Talk Reflector
>> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Failed Limit Switches on Crank-up Tower
>>
>>
>>
>> >Today I replaced the limit switches on my 72 foot motorized crank-up
>> >tower from US Tower. The lower one failed first, fortunately. (The
>> >limit switches automatically turn the tower motor off when the tower
>> >telescopes to its limits - up or down). When I opened up them up, I
>> >found that they were very badly corroded - to the extent of what you
>> >might see if a battery had leaked inside them. I was surprised to see
>> >the extent of corrosion because I have owned the tower for less than
>> >three years.
>> >
>> >Has anyone found a way to get a longer lifespan out of these switches?
>> >They cost $130 each to replace.
>>
>> I had the exact same problem with one of my limit switches, but Bruce
>> at US Tower was nice enough to replace it under warranty.
>>
>> What had happened in my case was the tower had lain on its side over a
>> rainy winter before I could install it. With the tower on its side,
>> one of the switches had its control cable (and the hold through which
>> it enters the switch) pointing skyward. Rain water ran down the cable,
>> through the hole and completely corroded the inside of the switch.
>>
>> I have added an internal inspection of both limit switches to my annual
>> inspection routine and have taken care to waterproof where the cable
>> enters the switchs.
>>
>> 73, Dick
>>
>> --
>> Dick Flanagan W6OLD CFII Minden, Nevada DM09db (South of Reno)
>> Visit http://www.qsl.net/cvrc/
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> 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
>
>
--
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
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