I am a somewhat new TX455 owner (installed Fall '07) and live in SE
Michigan.
Severe ice storms are rare in this part of Michigan but I can tell you what
to look for if you get freezing temps.
My tower (and likely most) has solid rod inserted in the lower 15 in. or so
of the outer (lower) sections' legs. While this is beneficial from a
strengthening perspective, it means that water weep holes must be provided.
A few weeks ago I was shocked to discover that two of the legs (lower
section) of my tower had splits in them from internal water freezing! This
is when I realized there is no provision in the legs to drain water. The
legs are open at the top of the section and completely plugged at the
bottom, so lots of rain water will collect inside the legs. I am working
with US Tower to resolve the issue.
Make sure your tower legs cannot hold water!
73,
Brad - N8SNM
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Walters" <K4IKM@ptd.net>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 14, 2010 11:13 AM
Subject: [TowerTalk] TX-455 and Ice
> Hi Guys!
>
> I'm a new TX-455 tower owner, it's sitting on the footing waiting for the
> 28 day concrete cure to be finished.
>
> Just recently, U S Tower updated their website and in the Ham products
> section have placed a note saying that their towers (including the ever
> popular TX-455) are not rated for ice and that these towers must be fully
> retracted during ice storms.
>
> I realize that the weight of the tower greatly increases with a thick
> coating of ice so the cable holding it up a seeing a far far greater load
> than normal. When I bought the tower, I had assumed this was engineered
> into the design but now it seems not. Here in the Poconos of PA, we have
> lots of nasty ice storms so this means I am perpetually going to put this
> tower up and down. I guess I can do this but it wasn't in my plans and I
> am going to want to motorize this puppy in some fashion if I have to do it
> often.
>
> So (finally) my question: Are there any instances of TX-455 failure due to
> ice loading? Any other comments on this issue are most welcome.
>
> 73 and good DX!
>
> Steve...
>
> K4IKM@ptd.net
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
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