TOWER AND PLUMB MAINTENANCE

Our preferred method of Guy Tension measurement is the direct method. We use hydraulic equipment to actually pull the guy wire and determine the guy tension. Utilizing a master and slave gauge to verify gauge accuracy makes this the most precise method of guy tension measurement. We are also equipped to use a guy scope to shoot sag intercept. However, it is our opinion that the assumptions and calculations involved in the indirect method of guy tension measurement make it less reliable than the direct method. Either method of guy tension measurement is acceptable and can be used according to the Customers individual preference. At Coast to Coast Tower Service we use a hydraulic system comprised of a high-pressure pump, hydraulic jacks and gauges to determine guy tensions. All of our gauges are Calibrated and Certified. Our hydraulic systems are capable of measuring guy tension up to 200,000 pounds. All guy tension measurements and tower vertical alignment adjustment is preformed according to the tower manufacturers specifications as provided by the customer.

In a message dated 96-04-26 17:26:12 EDT, you write: >So what do the power companies, telephone companies, and CATV companies do >to measure the tension in their guys and support cables? I don't know the >answer to this question and maybe someone out there who does know could tell us? > Stan -Sounds like an interesting project. I can rent a real Enerpac 0-10K pound load cell tension dynamometer locally for $40.00 per day. Sometime soon would be a good time to do it since people are already using the Loos device. Want to come up and help? Since I don't have any 3/16" EHS on my tower, I'll have to find a station volunteer. As far as measuring wire tension, the TIA-222-E gives several methods. First of all, the initial guy tension is normally 10% of the published breaking strength (3/16" EHS, 3990 pounds breaking strength guy tension should be 400 pounds) with upper and lower limits of 15 and 8 percent respectively. The conditions should be windless and a measurement of the ambient temperature should be taken since the tension varies with temperature. 1. The Direct Method is with the aforementioned dynamometer. The exact method was discussed here a couple of weeks ago and I won't repeat it now. Another instrument called a strand tensionometer can be used but is relatively expensive (the Enerpac is 'only' $850.00) 2. The Pulse Method is an indirect technique where the vibration of the guy is measured. One sharp jerk (is he on this reflector?) is applied to the guy cable close to the bottom termination causing a pulse or wave to travel up and down the cable. The pulse is timed and the result is cranked into a formula. 3. The Tangent Intercept is another indirect method where a line of sight is established which is tangential to the guy cable near the anchor end and which intersects the tower leg a distance (tangent intercept) below the guy attachment on the tower. This actually measures the sag of the guy wire. Again, you crank the info into a formula to arrive at the answer. I think that utility companies also use the above methods for their requirements. If there are other ways of doing this, I am not familiar with them. Hope this is a useful contribution to the contest reflector and is low on the CRAP scale (and I'm not sure how THAT'S measured!) There are two indirect methods you can use. One is the Pulse Method where you give the guy wire a sharp jerk (or swing) and you measure the return with a stop watch and crank the time along with the total weight of the guy, the guy length, vertical and horizontal measurements and some other data into a formula. The other indirect method is the Tangent Intercept method where in addition to much of the aforementioned information you need the guy angle at the anchor (probably best done with a transit) and, again, it's all cranked into a formula. These methods are obviously used for TALL towers with BIG guy wires - not your typical ham installation. More info and the formulas are in the TIA-222-F "Structural Standards for Steel Antenna Towers and Antenna Supporting Structures".