Guest wbottomley Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 After 5 years of a synchronized display, the wind claimed one mega tree. We had gusts near 50 today and a guy wire snapped. I'll have pictures tomorrow of the destruction. Hoping I can get it back up and running by tomorrow night. That feeling of a huge lump in my stomach is a reality now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iresq Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Darn William, that just sucks. Hopefully it is not beyond repair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wbottomley Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Dave... the part that scares me is the pole fell on the controller rack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Belcher Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Mountainwxman wrote: After 5 years of a synchronized display, the wind claimed one mega tree. We had gusts near 50 today and a guy wire snapped. I'll have pictures tomorrow of the destruction. Hoping I can get it back up and running by tomorrow night. That feeling of a huge lump in my stomach is a reality now.William,I hate to hear that. Setting up the first time is one thing but setting the second time in a rush is a different kind of pressure.Good luck with it. What type of material did you use for the wire? Did the wire break or pull the anchor out of the ground?Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wbottomley Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Charles... it's a heavy duty 6 strand wire that has never been a problem. The wire just snapped in half.The anchors I use are the mobile home kind that's 30-36 inches long. Needless to say the anchor is still there.Just glad I took advantage of Lowes 50% off and bought enought lights to make another tree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Belcher Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Mountainwxman wrote: Charles... it's a heavy duty 6 strand wire that has never been a problem. The wire just snapped in half.The anchors I use are the mobile home kind that's 30-36 inches long. Needless to say the anchor is still there.Just glad I took advantage of Lowes 50% off and bought enought lights to make another tree.William,I own a production company in Dallas and I have rigged many things both around the public and over their heads for concerts, special events, etc.What you described is a pretty serious matter and it had to take a big straight line wind to do that kind of damage. Over the years I have seen many ground anchors pulled out of the ground by big winds and it is never a pretty sight.I am glad that is all of the damage you incurred and hope you get through the rest of the season without a repeat performance.Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 William,Sorry to hear about the disaster. Hope you get everything up and running quick. Best of luck to yagreg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan78 Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 William, where on the tree did you have the wires attached? Was it from the top or the middle of the pole? Also what angle were the wires coming off the tree?I know Randall has a lot of experience with radio towers and properly guy wiring your tree. Maybe he can chime in and offer some advice. I know he had a thread about it last year.I have a sleeve that is buried 2' that the pole slides into then guy wired 4 different directions from the top. My tree really can't fall over since it is in the ground 2' but the wires help it stabilize it even more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wbottomley Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 Tex... my guy wires were attached at the top.I'm in the broadcasting business too... so I know about attaching guy wires.It was strictly a guy wire failure. It snapped in half near the top.Next year, I'm increasing my size to 1/8" cable. That cable was near 4-years-old. So I'm replacing all guy wires this summer on all 4 mega trees.The controllers are fine... just the rack is busted a little, lot of bulbs shattered, and only replaced 2 strands of lights.Here's images of the catastrophe:Needless to say... I was a lucky one this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad02 Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 That's ugly, good luck getting it back together. At least you don't have 12" of snow and ice on top of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wbottomley Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Got it back up and running last night.If you watch it on my webcam tonight... it's the one on the left of the three.http://www.highcountrylights.com/live%20video.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iresq Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Glad to see your up and running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyler9613 Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 What do you use to encase your LOR Controllers? I'd like to have a rack under my mega tree, but I need something to weatherproof them...Thanks,Tyler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wbottomley Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 tyler9613 wrote: What do you use to encase your LOR Controllers? I'd like to have a rack under my mega tree, but I need something to weatherproof them...Thanks,TylerThe standard enclosures that come with the pc version controllers work fine. Those controllers and rack is going to it's fifth year in 2009.All you have to do is build a rack and you're set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaStAdJ Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Well this is our first year we used a mega tree and it collapsed due to vandalism... Haha, well at least you were back up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul C Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 This year we almost got the vandals, we got to the window fast enough to see a car take off. We could not get a make or color, it was dark. Called the cops, but to no avail.This year they went through the yard with a set of wire cutters, no other damage really. Its not like it wasn't put together with wire nuts and crimp fittings anyway.Didn't happen last year but the year before it did, they made off with some reindeer and our beloved Santa.Five years that pretty good. Seems like every time they strike here, they hit six or seven houses that night.Suppose it's Carma really, can remember as a youth stealing C-9s just to here them pop when thrown. Wait to much information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts