Temporary tower for anemometer

 

I bought a wind speed data logging kit to see if wind power is worth
it for my area. I'd like to build a cheap temporary tower 40-60 feet
high. My plan is to put the pipe in a 5 gallon bucket fill it with
concrete and then bury the bucket in the earth. I would also use guy
wires every 15-20 feet connected to screw in earth anchors. Could
someone suggest what pipe I could use for this temporary tower? Is
this a good plan for a temporary tower?

 



Cheap 40 foot tower??  seems non inclusive to me.

Check with your local electrical contractors that have bucket/auger trucks.
Might be easier and cheaper to just set a pole where you want to do your
testing. When your done they can pull it out if the your testing fails the
results your looking for.  If not and you chose the right pole your tower is
almost finished.


FYI poles are usually sunk 20 to 40% of their length into the ground
depending on conditions.
Your idea of a 5 gallon bucket with concrete is a waste of time and money in
my opinion.
Guy wire attachments are usually set into the ground at least 4 feet.  Guy
wire is a bear to work with and takes a lot of muscles. A come-a-long will
work but it will take you all weekend to do one set of 3 guys.

Have fun and do not hurt anyone or anything

 



Sounds fine to me. What's your max expected windspeed and prop diameter?

V mph makes 0.00256V^2 lb/ft^2, eg 6.4 psf at 60 mph. If a 4' prop with
12.6 ft^2 of swept area pushes 80 pounds max (less, given Betz) with
guy wires every 10' up to 10' below the top, it needs to resist about
10x80 = 800 ft-lb = M = fI/C = 25KPir^4/(4r) = 19635r^3, so r = 0.34",
for solid pipe... 3/4" schedule 40 galvanized pipe with 1.05" OD makes
I = Pi/4((1.05/2)^4-(3/4/2)^4) = 0.044 in^4, so M = 25Kx0.044/(1.05/2)
= 2101 ft-lb, over twice the requirement.

The lower guy wires might have spreaders, with no ground connection.

Nick

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     You want to use a telescoping TV antenna mast.  They come complete with
attachments for light guy wire every 10 feet.  I greatly prefer to attach them
to a building if possible, and then guy them every ten feet above the building.

     Another possibility is to go to the library and look at a copy of The Radio
Amateur's Handbook.  In the back, you will find plans for building wooden masts
using ordinary materials you can buy at any Home Depot.

     Vaughn

 



I like to use Extension Ladders for tempoary towers.  They aren't too
expensive and can be used for something other than just as a tempoary
tower.  They are easily guyed and I usually just bury the bottom foot in
the ground after it is erected.


Me