> Run a line of heavy guy wire from the tower about 10-12 ft up from the
> tower to the house. you can sink a 4 X 4 wood post at the house or put an
> anchor into the side of the house (depending upon the material on the
> house) to attach the guy wire to. Use turnbuckles to tighten the guy
> wire.
>
> Then run all your coax and control lines attached to the overhead guy wire
> with black wire ties. It's easy, neat, will not be effected by moister,
> and works great. I have been using this way for over 40 years at various
> locations.
>
> See: my web site at <http://www.w2fla.com/>
>
[Steve Katz] Hi Sherman! Two problems with the "overhead" approach
(although the first one doesn't bother me at all): (1) Not recommended for
lightning protection. If you get a strike, the energy will take the path of
lowest impedance to earth, and when you have multiple cable taps coming off
your tower 10-12' above ground, that path is likely to be via that cable
bundle, rather than down through the tower base. That brings the energy
right up to your house, even if you have protectors on the lines before they
enter. I say "not recommended," because it's not, and this point was
specifically raised in the QST series of articles on lightning protection in
Jun-Jul-Aug issues; however, that being said, I've also ignored the rules
and used overhead cable runs without any problems for about 37 years now.
(2) Maybe more importantly, what you recommend works best with strong
coaxial cable that can be tied to the messenger cable (overhead guy line).
9913 is not strong. If nylon tie-wraps, metal cable clamps, or anything
stronger than a wet paper towel is used to support 9913 to a steel guy wire,
the cable will suffer. It's hollow inside, and collapses easily! -WB2WIK/6
> Good luck!!
>
> 73
> Sherman
> W2FLA
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> At 07:14 AM 08/28/2002 -0700, you wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > I am considering running a 30 foot trench from the base of my
> tower to my
> > ham shack for my coaxial cables, and would like to here comments /
> > suggestions from anyone that has done this before, on things to do
> / not
> > do,
> > etc.
> >
> > All of my cables are 9913, and I have a bundle of about 8
> feedlines.
> >
> [Steve Katz] The biggest problem there is that 9913 isn't
> very
> flexible, so one must be very careful during the "pull" process
> (getting the
> feedlines through the pipe) to assure the cable isn't bent or kinked
> to a
> damaging point. 9913 should only be bent on a 10x diameter radius,
> which is
> about four inches, and I'm sure you know it cannot be repeatedly
> bent at any
> location.
>
>
>
> > I am thinking about a 4 (four) inch conduit pipe, and wondering
> about a
> > few
> > things: (BTW,
> > I live in Southern California)
> >
> [Steve Katz] 8 runs of 9913 (.405" O.D.) should fit, but
> I'd grease
> them before pulling them through the pipe to assure they slip right
> through
> and don't try to kink in the process.
>
>
> > How deep should the trench be below ground?
> >
> [Steve Katz] In southern CA, it doesn't matter because
> there's no
> frostline to worry about, unless you're up very high in the
> mountains. I'd
> make it shallow, just deep enough to prevent potential
> landscapers/gardeners
> or others from hitting it when servicing the property. I'd also use
> PVC
> pipe, with multiple elbows glued to each end to make inverted spouts
> to
> prohibit water entry. We don't get condensation here, although even
> if a
> small amount did occur, it could still vent out the inverted pipe
> openings
> at the ends. (Frankly, I've never seen a drop of water in any of my
> underground pipe runs for cables in southern CA. Even though I have
> a 7
> days/week automatic sprinkler system that literally "rains hard" on
> the
> openings at the ends, no water gets into the pipe because it would
> have to
> defy gravity to do so. I had such an installation 120' long
> (schedule 40
> PVC pipe) in Chatsworth for 7 years, and opened it up twice for
> service, and
> both times it was dry as a bone inside, even in winter.) I plug
> each
> inverted end opening with high density foam to keep out varmints but
> still
> allow the pipe to breathe. It would not be a nice surprise to open
> the pipe
> for servicing and find it full of black widows.
>
>
> > What kind of pipe is best to use?
> >
> > Should I drill holes in the bottom side of the pipe so water can
> drain
> > out?
> >
> [Steve Katz] I wouldn't bother. If you do it right,
> there'll be
> nothing to drain.
>
>
> > Should I place some gravel on the top of the trench before I lay
> the pipe
> > on
> > top, and cover it, to help with drainage?
> >
> [Steve Katz] See above.
>
>
> > Anything else I should know?
> >
> [Steve Katz] Nah. Be careful handling 9913 prior to,
> during, and
> after the installation, though. It's fragile cable, not to be
> stepped on,
> driven over, mishandled or kinked, ever, during its lifetime or that
> lifetime will be cut very short. -WB2WIK/6
>
>
> > Thanks for your help.
> >
> > Herb - KG6OK
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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