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Some answers to tower questions
By wpowokal, Section Wind Posted on Sat Sep 23rd, 2006 at 12:24:08 PM MST
FYI

http://www.alpinesurvival.com/whisper_wind-tower-kits.html

Some answers to tower questions | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 editorial)

Re: Some answers to tower questions (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by paradigmdesign (paradigmpower_05@yahoo.com) on Sat Sep 23rd, 2006 at 07:47:20 AM MST
(User Info) www.goldstarpetresort.com

Quite the interesting web site. I have never seen turbines sold side by side with Riot Gear, Biohazard suits, armored cars, and bulk MREs before.
"Don't worry about tomorrow, plan for it."

Re: Some answers to tower questions (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by thefinis (thefinis@hotmail.com) on Sun Sep 24th, 2006 at 07:24:01 AM MST
(User Info)

Nice page it will work well for a starting point and helping decide on guys. You still need to consider turbine size if you are building your own and see if it is within their sizes and weights. Their pipe size seems small to me looks like it would bend as you raised it. Maybe I just like to overbuild but really thin=walled sched 20 pipe not if I am close enough to have it fall on me.

Finis
Texas born and bred

Re: Some answers to tower questions (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by stephent on Sun Sep 24th, 2006 at 10:12:19 AM MST
(User Info)

Personally I think without the screw anchors and the mast itself--that stuff is a bit pricey--to say the least.
Well--they use 4 guy wires so it's easier to raise--??
At least they don't show towers using 4 guy wires on a triangular tubing tower.
And don't show using guy radius's less then 50% to 60%. (80% is the sweet spot)
But their pdf manual states the side loading/pull from high winds can exceed 1000pds in some cases--then they show using a 1/4" bolt/eyebolt for an anchor--and if soft rock--using a 3/8" bolt. I would recommend a way larger bolt for a guy anchor to say the least. Welded eyebolts ONLY--good grade--not cheap.
If you need anchor/guy wire/support info--go get info from a wide array of it on the internet.
Rhon tower or similar (google).
Ham Radio folks have been putting up towers/masts with heavy, high wind loads on towers/masts for close to 100 years now (not me--I'm not quite that old--yet.
Now this is just a personal opinion and just about everyone has one of those--but I would not use much info from that site (the PDF manuals) for holding a tower/mast up permanently.
That Schedule 40 water pipe is probably OK for 6' to 8' blade(s) and maybe up to 21/22' high. (that's the normal lenght for a pipe found at your local hardware/plumbing supply)
Using a pipe coupling in it would be like nicking it about half way through and expecting it to have full strenght yet..
Using those aluminum turnbuckles found at the same farm/home store isn't recommended either--even the big 1/2" ones--they will stretch and break in the center aluminum part.
And the screw anchors found at the same place are just spot welded here and there--get them welded a bit more, and check them to even see if they have a welded eye at the end--if not--don't buy and weld them--they are cheaply made all over.
Check the place where the radius starts for the eyebolt--if it has a sharply reduced spot (looks like it was held in a vise) where the turn starts--it is weak and will break sooner (probably) then later.

Some answers to tower questions | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 editorial)

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