{"id":4363,"date":"2011-12-23T22:43:47","date_gmt":"2011-12-24T02:43:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/?p=4363"},"modified":"2023-04-29T12:27:38","modified_gmt":"2023-04-29T16:27:38","slug":"the-head-smasher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/2011\/12\/the-head-smasher\/","title":{"rendered":"The head smasher"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I have worked in hundreds of transmitter sites over the years; AM, FM, TV, HF, Two way, Paging, Cellular, etc. \u00a0So many, I have lost count. \u00a0The one thing that is always annoying is equipment that is suspended from the ceiling at just the wrong height, AKA: The Head Smasher. \u00a0It does not matter if warning signs are posted, I’ve seen them marked with black and yellow caution tape, and so on. \u00a0If it is installed low enough for somebody to hit their head, contusions will result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"3<\/a>
3 1\/8 inch motorized coax switch mounted<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Thus, when it came to installing this motorized 3 1\/8-inch coax switch, there was only one way to do it. \u00a0Installing it the other way would result in a head smasher behind the backup transmitter because the ceilings are low. \u00a0The problem with this style of mounting is how to get to the motor and clutch assembly for servicing. \u00a0There is but one inch of clearance between the top of the coax switch and the transmitter room’s ceiling. \u00a0If servicing is needed, the entire switch would need to be removed, resulting in lots of extra work and off-air time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"3<\/a>
3 1\/8 inch motorized coax switch cover<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So, an idea was formed.  Why not cut the switch cover in half and put some hinges on it.  The cover itself is made of aluminum.  I was able to carefully mark it out and cut it with a jig saw.  Then, I attached a set of hinges on the back side and a set of latches on the front.  It now opens like a clam shell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"3<\/a>
3 1\/8 inch coax switch cover modification<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Now, when access is needed to either the motor or clutch, the cover can be opened up and removed. \u00a0Unless the actual RF contact fingers burn out, there should be no need physically remove the switch for servicing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"3<\/a>
3 1\/8 inch coax switch cover, modified<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cover replaced.  This will not have to be removed very often, in fact, I have known some coax switches that never need service.  Still, having the ability to quickly get the cover off and do some basic repairs is a good thing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I have worked in hundreds of transmitter sites over the years; AM, FM, TV, HF, Two way, Paging, Cellular, etc. \u00a0So many, I have lost count. \u00a0The one thing that is always annoying is equipment that is suspended from the ceiling at just the wrong height, AKA: The Head Smasher. \u00a0It does not matter if … Continue reading The head smasher<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[215],"class_list":["post-4363","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-fm-transmitter-site"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4363"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11664,"href":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4363\/revisions\/11664"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}