After devotions, work began on pulling in the 100 feet long 4 conductor 4/0 cable that is about 2 inches in diameter, and heavy!  I was amazed as a couple of the VanderWerf grandsons grabbed the end of the cable and shoved it through the hole into the loft.  Two more grandsons received the cable to pull it through the loft and push it through a hole in the wall onto the cable tray going to the power room.  The remaining two grandsons pulled the cable down the tray and threaded it through the entry into the power room.  I didn’t time this operation, but guess it took no more than a couple minutes.  All I know is that there was not enough time to run outside to take photos of the process before it was already done!!

This 4/0 cable ran from the 200 amp panel in the transmitter hall to a breaker in the 800 amp distribution panel.  We were trying to determine the best routing through the power room, as the cable was too short to run down to the trench then back up to the breaker.  We decided to route the cable up and across the ceiling and use 2 hole saddle clamps to attach it to the ceiling.  There were not enough clamps in stock, so Ralph and I made a trip to Kooyman, Bonaire’s hardware store.  Kooyman had exactly what we needed.  We gave these clamps to Paul and when we checked back in less than an hour, the cable was attached neatly to the ceiling and connected to its breaker.  I suspect he enlisted the aid of his brother, or a cousin, to hold it up and secure it.

Now that this 4/0 cable runs to the 200 amp panel, Ralph and I switched off power to the temporary power cable that we had attached to the 200 amp main breaker a couple of days ago.  This temporary cable keeps lights and outlets powered in the new transmitter hall.   We quickly attached this temporary feed to a 25 amp three phase breaker in the panel.  Power was then restored with the circuits now being back-fed through the 25 amp breaker.  By switching the main breaker off (and taping it off), we were now able to connect the 4/0 cables to the 200 amp main breaker.  When the power company finally connects electricity to the power room, the temporary line can be disconnected and the main breaker switched on (after removing the tape) and this panel will be receiving its power from its designed source.

Meanwhile, ten 50 foot long 500mcm (about 1″ diameter) cables were being run from the 1,200 amp breaker in the power room to where the transmitter disconnect switch will be located.  These are also routed on the cable tray.  These cables are so heavy that the small tractor with front-end loader could not lift the spool containing the cable.  The spool had to be lifted with a chain hoist to put it on the stand for unreeling the cable.  These ten cables were cut for length then pulled through one-at-time, then Paul terminated then on the 1,200 amp breaker.   The other end was left hanging to be connected to a disconnect switch that will be coming with the transmitter.

These ten 500mcm cables were bundled in two bundles of three cables and one bundle of four.  Each bundle contains one wire from each phase.  The fourth cable in the larger bundle is a ground cable.  Each bundle is tie-wrapped to the cable tray to keep about 3″ spacing between each bundle.

At noon, Ralph and I went to the duplex for lunch and siesta.  We found out that Lionel treated the rest of our team to some goat meat stew and iquana.  Apparently the iguana was female, so they also had some iquana eggs!

Jim and Jake began connecting the copper lines to the condensing units.  The air handlers and cooling coils are supposed to be delivered tomorrow, just in time to avoid delays in the process of installing the air conditioners.

Bruce completed the modifications required to connect the dual 350mcm cable to the standby generator.

Philip and Brian progressed to the point of being able to switch on the LED light fixtures located above the future transmitter.  Multiple outlet circuits are also being installed.

As we reviewed progress at the end of the day, all the heavy cabling has been completed that can be done.  The connections for incoming power need to be done by the power company and the transmitter needs to be here to connect the other end.

Since we had been invited out for desert at 7pm this evening, our swim at Bachelor Beach was shortened.  We then had ‘tater tot’ casserole, cole slaw,  applesauce and salad with craisins and sunflower seeds.

Dessert was at the guest house where the VanDykens are staying.  All the missionary staff were there and each family brought a dessert to share.  There was a carrot cake, a couple of ‘dump cakes’, and ‘glorified rice’.