BTW, a foot switch is more than recommended, it's pretty much a
necessity, although one could get by with a toggle switch. You need both
hands to handle the rope while the load is moving.
Just to make the scenario a little more clear - picture this: you have
your monster 40 meter yagi within striking distance of the target spot
on the mast. The tower climber starts calmly asking for one inch up, or
1 inch down. Without stopping the drum, you can hold the rope with 2
fingers and give him that 1" up or down just by moving the rope back and
forth while it's slipping on the drum. That's how much control you have.
-Steve K8LX
On 9/12/2017 22:45 PM, Steve Maki wrote:
Well they should not be operated while drunk or when texting, that's for
sure. Nor by someone with zero training.
When you have the proper number of wraps on the drum (when it takes
approx 5-10 lbs of manual hold to stop the load from moving while the
drum is spinning), and the rope supply is in-line with the drum, you can
let go of the rope and the load will slowly descend. No free fall involved.
Chance now includes a safety device which prevents the rope from coming
off the end of the drum even if the rope supply is not in-line and the
operator has a heart attack.
-Steve K8LX
On 9/12/2017 22:23 PM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote:
I have been reading about how nice capstan winches are,
but I have no experience with them. They seem very
dangerous since the line comes loose and the load
falls down in case the line handler's attention wanders
for a second. It seems especially dangerous to be
lowering a heavy load when the handler has to pay
out the line just fast enough, but not too fast.
A foot switch is suggested, but it doesn't work as
a dead man safety. The winch stops but the line
still slips if not held back.
Seems like an accident waiting to happen, like free
climbing a tower. Can someone with experience explain
how these capstans could possibly be safe?
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