News Letters & Articles
5/29/97
Relamping a Tower
by Troy Conner
Owner, Tower Maintenance Specialists
Brasstown, N.C. One problem I constantly face on transmission
towers deals with old red beacon lighting systems. Many should probably be replaced, and
most are in need of considerable rebuilding. They also go through an inordinate number of
light bulbs.
When confronted with any ailing lighting system, I call Jason Jennett at
Fuellgraf Electric Co., an engineering and contracting firm in Nashville, Tenn. The people
at Fuellgraf are true lighting specialists, versed in red systems and strobe systems. The
company sells parts and service lighting systems, and also trains tower technicians to
service all the existing strobe systems typically found on towers: EG&G, Hughey &
Phillips and Flash Technology, to name a few.
Fuellgraf Electric primarily is devoted to lighting systems on
smokestacks and cooling towers. The company does, however, perform some lighting work
on transmission structures.
The number for the Nashville office is (615) 883-9405, or in Butler, PA, Fuellgraf can be
reached at (412) 282-4800.
A Clear Choice
There are two basic types of beacon fixtures: older ones with clear outer
lenses and red glass inner "filters," and the newer style with red exterior
lenses. Ask any tower worker which they prefer to service and the answer is universal -
the new ones with the red glass outside and clean, uncluttered insides.
While talking with Jennett a couple of weeks ago, I was lamenting the
condition of a top beacon on a small, 300-foot AM tower that I had just relamped. The
gaskets and O-rings were shot and the red inner filters were both cracked. In addition,
there were a number of chips and small cracks in the clear outer lenses.
The insulation of the cord connecting the beacon to the conduit was
cracked and the entire bottom of the fixture was awash in at least 2 inches of broken
glass from the exploded bulbs of years past.
The options for the long run are fairly obvious - either lower and rebuild
the existing fixture, or replace it altogether.
Jason suggested another option: Reuse the metal components of the beacon
and replace the clear glass with red. Not only are four red Fresnel lenses cheaper, but
using them makes relamping and future service considerably easier to perform. The current
cost difference between clear and red lenses is significant. Most of the clear lenses seem
to be manufactured in Europe. As one might imagine, after shipping, tariffs and
distribution costs, prices are practically doubled.
A full set of red lenses can be purchased between $400 and $700. A full
set of clear glass lenses can be more than $900; these in turn require a pair of delicate
red color filters for a minimum of $70 each.
If your lighting system is showing its age and contractors have suggested
a rebuild, definitely consider switching to red exterior lenses. Not only will you save a
bit of money, you will probably make the tower worker happier.
PiRod Reliability
You are probably already familiar with the name PiRod; it is
practically synonymous with the tower industry.
The quality of these structures never surprises me. They are always a
delight to climb and they are heartily engineered and manufactured. You may not be aware
that PiRod also has a tower parts and accessories catalog that is chock-full of neat tower
stuff.
PiRod is in Plymouth, Ind., and can be reached at (219) 936-4221. Whether
you need a couple of beacon bulbs or a complete tower, PiRod can probably serve your
needs. What impresses me the most about PiRod is the way an obviously busy firm deals with
the small contractor just as quickly as it would a larger company.
Well, I am out of space. I had hoped to get to isolation transformers and
base insulators but I will close by soliciting suggestions for future topics. If it has to
do with towers, I'm interested. Give a call or send a fax to me at the numbers shown
below.
Troy Conner is a North Carolina-based tower specialist and author of
the column Man of Steel. If you have any questions or tower topics suggestions he
can be reached at (704) 837-3526 or by fax at (704) 837-1015.
