Ok , so how about this.. 2 1/2" over the 2", then 10 foot 2" inside the 2 1/2", then a 21 foot 1 1/2" over lapped 3 feet, cross bolted, with imax 2000 on the other end.. This would give me 35 feet.. Would this work?
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Towers
- Thread starter Troubleshooter
- Start date
Too much math for me, lol!
You got the general idea. The good thing is that with 3 ft or so excess slipped in each section, you can adjust each one for height and stability and the only penalty is extra drill holes.
3 sections will be all you need. It's best to go largest on bottom to the smallest diameter on top. You need 1 in or 1 1/4 on top for U bolts to mount antenna.
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I thought I'd share a pic of my antenna setup at my house so you can see how telescoping masts are the way to go.
This is basically an inverted V dipole at 45 ft using a fiberglass telescoping pushup pole. The top of the pole is 1/2 inch in diameter. There is a weatherproof box on top which is a 4:1 balun that the dipole wires connect to.
There would be no way a single 1/2 in x 45 ft pole would support that balun box and stand straight unless multiple guy wires in 3 different spots are used.
Even though I have 2 guy wires from east to west, the antenna wires that go north to south actually create a 4 point guy system and I have weights at each end.
You can see that the mast is straight and how each larger section supports the other. I mainly have it guyed because we get wind gusts up to 60 mph where I live. The antenna can stand on it's own during light breezes without guying.
This is basically an inverted V dipole at 45 ft using a fiberglass telescoping pushup pole. The top of the pole is 1/2 inch in diameter. There is a weatherproof box on top which is a 4:1 balun that the dipole wires connect to.
There would be no way a single 1/2 in x 45 ft pole would support that balun box and stand straight unless multiple guy wires in 3 different spots are used.
Even though I have 2 guy wires from east to west, the antenna wires that go north to south actually create a 4 point guy system and I have weights at each end.
You can see that the mast is straight and how each larger section supports the other. I mainly have it guyed because we get wind gusts up to 60 mph where I live. The antenna can stand on it's own during light breezes without guying.
Nice.. Thanks for sharing.. I just talked to my friend who said he will help me with the antenna project in about a month or so. He has to catch up on his work.. He does construction.. We are going to cut my 2" pipe thats in the ground down to 3ft like a few others have mentioned.. Going to buy a 10 foot 2 1/2" pipe to slide over the 3 ft 2" and secure it with heavy duty cross bolts.. Then take my exisiting 10 foot 2" and slide it into that 3-4 feet, cross bolt it and then take a 21 foot 1 1/2' pipe and slide it into that, and mount the imax 2000 to the other end.. With the good base in the ground and the support on my house it should be fine..
Can I ask what the benifit of the 2 1/2" is? If you are going to support the 2" at the eve, why not just leave both sections of 2"?
What I am reading is that you are essentially going to remove a 3 to 4' section of 2" and have the same thing you have now. Why not slip a piece of 2 1/2" that is 9' 10" over the existing 2" if you are worried about it? I assume that you are now worried about the 2" collar? I would be more worried about the sheet metal eve bracket than I would be a 2" collar below the support.
What I am reading is that you are essentially going to remove a 3 to 4' section of 2" and have the same thing you have now. Why not slip a piece of 2 1/2" that is 9' 10" over the existing 2" if you are worried about it? I assume that you are now worried about the 2" collar? I would be more worried about the sheet metal eve bracket than I would be a 2" collar below the support.
Right now I have a 10 foot 2" in the ground 4 feet with rebarb and 11 bags of concrete, I have another 2" screwed into that one with just the threads, and then its supported at the eve.. The base of my antenna is 26 feet off the ground..
Not sure who mentioned it, but they said to take everything down and cut the 2" pipe thats in the ground so only 3 feet is exposed. This is so I can utilize the base, they said to slip a 10 foot 2 1/2" over , then cross bolt it, take the other 10 foot 2" pipe and slide it into that, cross bolt it, then support it at the eve like it is, and then slide a 21 foot 1 1/2" pipe into that.. This will get me 35 feet from the base of antenna from the ground, and the pipes will of course no longer be threaded together.. And with more then half the weight of the antenna difference, it should be solid..
Not sure who mentioned it, but they said to take everything down and cut the 2" pipe thats in the ground so only 3 feet is exposed. This is so I can utilize the base, they said to slip a 10 foot 2 1/2" over , then cross bolt it, take the other 10 foot 2" pipe and slide it into that, cross bolt it, then support it at the eve like it is, and then slide a 21 foot 1 1/2" pipe into that.. This will get me 35 feet from the base of antenna from the ground, and the pipes will of course no longer be threaded together.. And with more then half the weight of the antenna difference, it should be solid..
That might have been me saying that. Basically I meant using any size up to 3 inch to fit over the existing one then build it up from there.
Even though you have an eave bracket, that isn't completely solid. I use one of those myself. The point is reduce weight as you go higher and have the second section attached to the eave bracket so it will be less stress on it. The 3rd section will be the lightest but will balance out with antenna weight and wind loading.
Your friend probably will have good knowledge of construction material and where to buy it.
As I said at first, see if you can get T1061 aluminum pipe. These are sold in many different diameters compared to galvanized plumbing pipe.
Even though you have an eave bracket, that isn't completely solid. I use one of those myself. The point is reduce weight as you go higher and have the second section attached to the eave bracket so it will be less stress on it. The 3rd section will be the lightest but will balance out with antenna weight and wind loading.
Your friend probably will have good knowledge of construction material and where to buy it.
As I said at first, see if you can get T1061 aluminum pipe. These are sold in many different diameters compared to galvanized plumbing pipe.
I found a place to order a custom size.. 6061-T6 Aluminum Pipe 1.5", this is schedule 40 like my 2" plumbing pipe.. So this will slide into my 2" schedule 40 pipe? I should use 21 feet of this for the imax? I am sure this will be a lot lighter then a 21 foot 1 1/2" plumbing pipe.. So use the 10 foot 2 1/2" pipe then my 2" pipe, then this aluminum pipe into the 2" plumbing pipe? Please let me know so I can order it..
Definitely lighter,
What you want to do is raise the middle section higher and that will attach the the eave bracket. For the top section, I would go with 10ft so 2ft will slip down below.
Your overall adjustments will then be the middle section up or down as needed.
The middle section would have to be 20ft (2 10ft and a threadrd coupling will be fine)and the lower would be 10ft but cut down to make room for the middle section to slide down into for the desired height.
Your pipe diameters all depend on what can slide into each other. I recommend calling this pipe place and asking them to be sure.
Also you need to know the correct inside and outside diameter of your existing pipe. You might be able to find a size to slip into your existing one now and build it up from there.
Still, go with 3 sections so you have strength, stabilty, and adjustments.
Now that your looking into custom pipe, you have more options about diameter sizes of all 3 sections compared to plumbing pipe.
I hope we aren't confusing you too much.
What you want to do is raise the middle section higher and that will attach the the eave bracket. For the top section, I would go with 10ft so 2ft will slip down below.
Your overall adjustments will then be the middle section up or down as needed.
The middle section would have to be 20ft (2 10ft and a threadrd coupling will be fine)and the lower would be 10ft but cut down to make room for the middle section to slide down into for the desired height.
Your pipe diameters all depend on what can slide into each other. I recommend calling this pipe place and asking them to be sure.
Also you need to know the correct inside and outside diameter of your existing pipe. You might be able to find a size to slip into your existing one now and build it up from there.
Still, go with 3 sections so you have strength, stabilty, and adjustments.
Now that your looking into custom pipe, you have more options about diameter sizes of all 3 sections compared to plumbing pipe.
I hope we aren't confusing you too much.
I am getting confused.. So can I just keep what I have now? As far as the 2 2" pipes? I dont have to go cutting the other pipe down and slipping a 2 1/2" plumbing pipe over it. I can leave the 2 2" pipes and order a 20 foot aluminum 1.5" and slip it 3 feet into the 2"?? This will be strong enough for the imax right? I will just remove the sleeve I made and just insert the 20 foot 1.5" pipe into the 2"? the wall thickness on the aluminum says 0.15", is that thick enough to support the imax? Here is a picture of my sleeve I will remove..
Yes it will hold the Imax, but if you go up to 36ft, it will must likely lean and look bad in your neighborhood.
That's why I suggest a 3 section mast especially since the top section doesn't need to extend as long being supported by the middle section. This should keep it rigid and straight. Look at my pic again and notice how I left the top section short for that same reason.
It's only because you have an existing pipe and it would be wasteful to dig it up and redo it. But you may find it less confusing and easier to start from scratch and build 3 telescoping sections.
You can either slip a larger pipe over that 2 inch and build it up or, With these aluminum pipes and more size choices, put a smaller pipe inside your 2 inch and go up from there. Same difference once they are bolted together. You just need to have the 3rd section 1 inch or 1 1/4 for the Imax Ubolts. You may want to check on the Imax Ubolt size too.
Use the middle section for adjustments sliding up or down or in and out of the existing pipe.
You just need to check with the pipe dealer to know which sizes will slip into each other including your existing pipe.
Hope that clears it up some.
That's why I suggest a 3 section mast especially since the top section doesn't need to extend as long being supported by the middle section. This should keep it rigid and straight. Look at my pic again and notice how I left the top section short for that same reason.
It's only because you have an existing pipe and it would be wasteful to dig it up and redo it. But you may find it less confusing and easier to start from scratch and build 3 telescoping sections.
You can either slip a larger pipe over that 2 inch and build it up or, With these aluminum pipes and more size choices, put a smaller pipe inside your 2 inch and go up from there. Same difference once they are bolted together. You just need to have the 3rd section 1 inch or 1 1/4 for the Imax Ubolts. You may want to check on the Imax Ubolt size too.
Use the middle section for adjustments sliding up or down or in and out of the existing pipe.
You just need to check with the pipe dealer to know which sizes will slip into each other including your existing pipe.
Hope that clears it up some.
Let be see if I have this correct, I hope I do... So I am going to utilize the 2 2" pipes I have now, take off the sleeve and get 1 10 foot 1.5" aluminum pipe to slide into my 2" pipe, then order 1 10 foot of 1.25 aluminum pipe to sink into that, then put imax on the other end? This aluminum pipe with 0.15" wall is strong enough then? Will this work? Hope this is the last time and I get it.. LOL!
thanks.....
thanks.....
I'm assuming your 2in pipe is 2- 10ft sections coupled for 20 ft.
I would still check with the dealer to make sure 1 1/2 pipe will fit inside your 2 inch.
Also be sure 1.25 will slip into the 1.5, that sounds a bit tight to me.
If the Imax Ubolts can accept a 1 inch mast, a 1 inch should fit inside the 1.5 and do that.
All that will give you 40ft and you'll have plenty to slip into each section.
That T1061 pipe is some remarkably strong stuff for how light it is.
If you get assurance ftom the dealer that all that will slip inside each other, then your good.
I would still check with the dealer to make sure 1 1/2 pipe will fit inside your 2 inch.
Also be sure 1.25 will slip into the 1.5, that sounds a bit tight to me.
If the Imax Ubolts can accept a 1 inch mast, a 1 inch should fit inside the 1.5 and do that.
All that will give you 40ft and you'll have plenty to slip into each section.
That T1061 pipe is some remarkably strong stuff for how light it is.
If you get assurance ftom the dealer that all that will slip inside each other, then your good.
Yes, its 2 2" 10 foot sections and coupled to 20 feet.. But 4 feet of that is in the ground in concrete so its only 16 feet... So if I get 2 aluminum 10 or 12 foot sections and overlap them 3 feet this should be stable for the imax.. I would have to get 1 1.5" and 1 1.25", the imax accepts 1.25", or I can even go 1.5" and 1"..