Because we aren't fully extending the telescoping tower for M2HATS, the operations are a bit different from the usual (noted in red).
Lowering:
- Perform a walkaround inspection to ensure that all is normal.
- Locate, but do not use yet, a wrench for the tower bottom bracket. A big crescent wrench will work, but there also should be a socket wrench in the job box. (Note that the job box locks are shimmed with rocks to avoid inadvertently locking the locks.)
- Take the tower's red key, insert it in the black socket in the tower control and turn 90 degrees.
- Take the generator key from the tower's control box and put it in the generator. Press the generator start button.
- Note how we fed the guy wire end to prevent turnbuckle turning, then undo. Loosen each of the guy wire turnbuckles 10 turns (if possible). Note the amount of tension on the guy wires for the raising step.
- Check that all cables are clear of the tower mechanism.
- Press and hold the switch to lower the tower.
- Keep tension on data cables to prevent tangles. With the cables for each level bundled and the "loop" ends taped, this isn't a big problem. Note that there is an AMP barrel connector (for the beacon) that needs a bit of coaxing through the loops.
- Pull the guy wires occasionally to prevent falling back into the tower
- The microswitch should stop the tower movement when it is down
- Remove the 4 bottom bracket bolts
- Press and hold the switch to tilt the tower down. I normally lay the rear guy wires on top of the tower. Pull slack from the front guy. There is no cutoff switch – release the switch when the tower has seated in the front "V" bracket.
- Turn the generator key to stop the generator.
- Put the tennis ball on the lightning spike
- Put the keys back in the tower control box if leaving the site.
Raising:
- Perform a walkaround inspection to ensure that all is normal.
- Locate, but do not use, a wrench for the tower bottom bracket.
- Check for tower level (best to use a bubble level from the tool pack). Adjust outrigger feet height if needed – definitely if any part of the bubble is outside the lines.
- Insert the generator and tower keys in the appropriate locations.
- Turn on generator.
- Check that guy wire top attachments are secure and not twisted
- Remove the tennis ball
- Press control switch to tilt up.
- Check that, especially rear, guy wires are clear of any mechanisms
- It took a couple of tries, but the microswitch should stop tilting up. Nevertheless, be prepared to stop when the bottom bracket meets the trailer.
- Secure the 4 bottom bracket bolts.
- Ensure that all cables are clear.
- Press control switch to raise tower
- Again, watch cables (and the AMP barrel) and guy wires.
- A bit before stopping the raising, check that the guy turnbuckles are not twisted on the trailer D rings.
- Note that there is a black sharpie arrow at the approximate location of the bottom of the white nylon block to indicate the extended position. However, judge when to stop raising by the guy wire tension noted above.
- Tension guy wires using the turnbuckles. Ideally, you would need to tighten back by 10 turns. Step back from the tower and sight up the tower to judge if the top section is plumb. Adjust to plumb using turnbuckles, then final tension.
- Turn off generator
- Resecure the guy turnbuckles with the wire ends.
- Place keys back in control box.