Author Topic: Tower adjusting?  (Read 2254 times)

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97fishmt

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Tower adjusting?
« on: September 25, 2010, 01:43:40 PM »
The trip to the cabin was a pleasant one.

The last days of summer and fall sure came in with a big punch
of a thunder storm and nice winds.

The genny worked great, furling is keeping the machine safe and
the huge gusts that were rattling the windows and wanting to tear
the roof off were no problem for the turbine to handle.

After looking at this picture at home on level ground, it looks like
I need to tighten up the guys on the lower portion of the tower
to straighten it out a little better.

I have been noticing that the 3/8" guy wires have been stretching
a little over the last year.  I have adjusted them twice now.

I know I need to put the bottom guy connection up at the top of
the gin pole and probably make gang plates for all the anchors
where the guys attach.  I have gotten away with not using any
turnbuckles yet.  I have been using a cable puller with a come-along
and just using cable clamps.

It's working great but there is  more improving for me to do.

Next I'm going to make a stronger tail pivot and hinge.  After adding
a bigger vane and weight to the boom,  the tail seems to be sagging
on the hinge some.

My hinge is a 1" store front door pin.  It is solid, but the bearing mount
to the boom is a little under sized now.

Anyhow, it was great to have the turbine cranking out power at night
when the solar panels were asleep.

Very cool,
I'm a proud papa.



DamonHD

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Re: Tower adjusting?
« Reply #1 on: September 25, 2010, 03:36:08 PM »
"Anyhow, it was great to have the turbine cranking out power at night
when the solar panels were asleep."

All good.  I'm jealous!

Rgds

Damon
Podcast: https://www.earth.org.uk/SECTION_podcast.html

@DamonHD@mastodon.social

Tom Sullivan

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Re: Tower adjusting?
« Reply #2 on: September 25, 2010, 10:14:25 PM »
Nice View!!!  I see you're in Washington State.  Just curious, where?  I lived in Tacoma for several years back in the 70's.

Tom

TomW

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Re: Tower adjusting?
« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2010, 07:34:49 AM »
97;

I ain't no expert but..

I would strongly suggest turnbuckles or other adjustable guy terminations..

As the installation ages those guys will grow. AKA "stretch".

If it gets sloppy up top this condition will get worse.

You really don't want that tower whipping around from sloppy guys.

It looks very nice, by the way.

Tom

97fishmt

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Re: Tower adjusting?
« Reply #4 on: September 26, 2010, 02:14:51 PM »
Hi Tom,  I'm in Edmonds mostly and in the
Okanogan the rest of the time.

And to Tom W.
The tower goes up and down a couple times
a month so I inspect and do any adjusting
as needed. 

I sure love this hobby!
Solar panels just aren't that sexy.

97fishmt

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Re: Tower adjusting?
« Reply #5 on: September 30, 2010, 08:33:39 PM »
This is the cable puller I was referring to.


A nice piece of equipment.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/KLEIN-TOOLS-ParallelJaw-Grips-2DGR8?Pid=search

Of course I only paid $27 for this unit off ebay.  
Used with a come-a-long this is the tool
for working on tower guys.
« Last Edit: September 30, 2010, 08:56:50 PM by 97fishmt »

willib

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Re: Tower adjusting?
« Reply #6 on: September 30, 2010, 08:48:48 PM »
97 it looks real nice up there.
Carpe Ventum (Seize the Wind)