In response to the congestive boom in mounting cell phone antennas on water towers, one company has introduced a new magnet-based cable/cable tray holding system that provides a non-penetrating system for mounting cables across and down the curvatures of steel water tanks.
More common methods of mounting cable attachment points to water tanks involve welding or use of epoxy. While traditional welding methods present a permanent solution, the invasive nature of welding requires recoating the steel on the inside and outside of the water tower tank. This may involve draining and refilling the tank. Epoxy mounting solutions are less invasive, but many factors can influence the reliability of this method as a long-term solution.
The new Magnemount Cable/Cable Tray Holding System from Metal & Cable Corp., Twinsburg, OH, does not damage the tank's interior/exterior surface, offers simplified installation, requires no maintenance, and can be removed easily.
David Klein, inventor of the system and president of the company, said the holding system "provides cell phone companies with an option to present water municipalities who are averse to welding on their tanks."
The system has been designed to withstand winds up to 150 mph and has passed a variety of seismic and mechanical tests.
The holding system is design to conform to the varying curvature of steel water towers, thus allowing unlimited placement possibilities. To achieve this, the patent design incorporates a specific combination of hardware and neoprene washers.
The independently mounted magnets allows the cable tray mounts to be placed on steel water towers or legs with as little as a 4 foot diameter. When the cable tray holders are placed on the tower, it takes no more than a minute to make adjustments, if necessary. This ability to adjust each magnet while it is installed on the water tower allows adjustments "on the fly".
One option for attaching cable is to use 304 grade Unistrut clamps to secure cables to the Magnemount cable mounting system. Another option is to attach the cable/cable tray mounts directly to the cable tray - one on each end of each tray. When specified to be used with cable trays, 3" to 5" bolts are used. These longer bolts are used to accommodate surface painting under the system on the water tower tanks; thus eliminating any need to remove the cables during painting.
Depending on how much length of cable tray is required to install, installation typically takes a couple minutes per holder. All that's required is to unload the framing system, place the supports, attach and secure the brackets. The cable trays can be assembled on the ground and hoisted up. Upon final tank-top installation, each magnet is oriented to its curve; one magnet on each side of the cable tray regardless of length.
For more detailed information, visit the Metal & Cable Corp. web site at: www.metal-cable.com. WW
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