I've done this, we picked the tower with a crane and installed the new taller insulator. We installed new longer turnbuckles and pre-forms on the guy wires 1 by 1 after the pick. We used 3pcs 60' slings and picked the tower 60 feet below the tip top in order to keep 3 sections in a compressive force instead of putting the tower under the full tensile pull of its own weight.
The other issue is the gap needs to be adjusted depending on the power level of the station(s) transmitting on the tower. We want the gap to be as small as possible to give lightning the best chance of dissipating through the gap but yet not inadvertently go off on peak modulation or nuisance pops.
Excellent. Nothing else made any sense and I have never seen them on an insulator like that before. It begs the question of why do it that way, though, instead of designing the spark gap directly into the insulator. I suppose it is difficult to maintain the mechanical integrity of the insulating ceramic under the sizable compression forces if the material composition changes in the middle.
Extremely interesting, thank you. As the tower was jacked up, were the guy wire turnbuckles loosened, or did the jacks stretch the guy wires (i.e. elastic deformation)?
They’re ceramic. I’ll never understand how tons of steel can sit on a ceramic block for decades, and not have it eventually shatter. But problems seem to be fairly rare.
The other issue is the gap needs to be adjusted depending on the power level of the station(s) transmitting on the tower. We want the gap to be as small as possible to give lightning the best chance of dissipating through the gap but yet not inadvertently go off on peak modulation or nuisance pops.
Thanks for posting this video to give us a unique insight into the detail of antennae maintenance that we would not normally have access to.
Ya really have confidence in your engineering to work underneath 15 tons of tower suspended by 3 jacks.
I'm impressed.......
The wipe down. LoL you guys fuckkking nailed it ! Great patience!
I would have never thought this was possible! Great job!
Impossible engineering! 😮 Amazing!
I've done this, we picked the tower with a crane and installed the new taller insulator. We installed new longer turnbuckles and pre-forms on the guy wires 1 by 1 after the pick. We used 3pcs 60' slings and picked the tower 60 feet below the tip top in order to keep 3 sections in a compressive force instead of putting the tower under the full tensile pull of its own weight.
The ball-like objects on thin posts? Spark gaps for lightning and other static electricity discharge?
Very cool in deed, thanks for sharing. Interesting work.
The other issue is the gap needs to be adjusted depending on the power level of the station(s) transmitting on the tower. We want the gap to be as small as possible to give lightning the best chance of dissipating through the gap but yet not inadvertently go off on peak modulation or nuisance pops.
Good job, guys. Was wondering how the new insulator was not funnel shaped such as the old one and how that would affect load transfer/area loading?
Excellent. Nothing else made any sense and I have never seen them on an insulator like that before. It begs the question of why do it that way, though, instead of designing the spark gap directly into the insulator. I suppose it is difficult to maintain the mechanical integrity of the insulating ceramic under the sizable compression forces if the material composition changes in the middle.
Beckley west va. Yep we did the same exact thing. Insalator was busted to peices. We jacked tower up installed what they call a wedding cake.
I wanted that old insulator so bad!
Sure, that makes perfect sense. Thanks!
I thought it might have been prudent to screen off the insulator temporarily in case it shattered when the load came on it.
Our tower was like 500 ft I think. Been a long time ago. But I do remember doing that.
Well done gents.
Im a little lost.what kept the base from kicking out to sides???and 7" taller, makes for longer guy line compensation.
Extremely interesting, thank you.
As the tower was jacked up, were the guy wire turnbuckles loosened, or did the jacks stretch the guy wires (i.e. elastic deformation)?
Its shown in the video.
tappy tap tap
We used three forty or sixty ton generac hydraulic jacks to lift the tower after coming down on guy wire turn buckles
What is the insulator made of?
They’re ceramic. I’ll never understand how tons of steel can sit on a ceramic block for decades, and not have it eventually shatter. But problems seem to be fairly rare.
Was the tower broadcasting while this work was being done?
Uh no 😂 the tower itself is the antenna , hence the insulator , and that would have been very very bad
That is correct.
I thought my job was dangerous. No way I would, more so could do this!
That wasnt a fart. That was me soiling my under shorts!
That pop definitely caused a shart to one of those guys
The other issue is the gap needs to be adjusted depending on the power level of the station(s) transmitting on the tower. We want the gap to be as small as possible to give lightning the best chance of dissipating through the gap but yet not inadvertently go off on peak modulation or nuisance pops.