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Show will be deeply buried under winter snow. If this occurs, the settlement pressure will add a large amount of extra strain which can damage or even break the mast. Electrical Cables The extensive installation of electrical cables usually comes about as part of a wind telemetry system, but shorter cables may often be used for signal and power circuits between an observation area and office or guard station. We cannot place too strong an emphasis on the importance of electrical systems using quality materials installed according to professional standards. Many years of observation and experience have made very clear the folly of short- cuts, cheap materials and amateur installations. They invariably break down just when they are most needed, and the cost of labor for trouble- shooting and repairs soon exceeds the original savings gained by doing the job " on the cheap". It is worth noting that the difference between " amateur" and " professional" electrical work is not always congruent with the formal identification of these categories. Non- professionals with a real interest in electrical circuits and electronics sometimes do an impeccable job of wiring, while we have seen telephone linemen who didn't have the foggiest idea of how to install cables in a mountain environment. Good work is where you find it. The secret to success is careful, conscientious attention to good workmanship. The fundamentals of how to achieve this are taught in any trade school; actually executing it depends on an attitude of mind. The preferred method of installing cables in mountain environments is by underground burial. Overhead lines are sometimes used, but they usually require more maintenance and a higher- than- average number of poles if the lines are exposed to icing and high winds. Underground cables are especially preferred if a large number of circuits are involved. The underground cable does have the disadvantage that defects are much harder to locate when they do occur. Therefore the use of only best- quality cables is mandatory if they go underground. Trouble- shooting can be simplified if splices are not buried; they should be brought to the surface and connections made at terminal strips in weather- proof junction boxes. Assuming a good cable is properly installed ( buried at least 6" below the ground surface), the two most likely sources of trouble are bulldozers and rodents. The bulldozer problem cannot always be eliminated in a developing ski area, but it can be minimized if the cable line is carefully selected in the first place, clearly marked, and then patrolled during periods of earth- moving ^ 3 |
