Dave, Daryl and Lionel installing the cable tray over the transformer

Frank and I finished installing the rods for the cable tray in the ceiling, while Daryl, Dave and Lionel installed the cable tray that makes the transition from the transformer to the ceiling tray.  Lionel fabricated and painted this section of the cable tray.

Lionel, Jonas, Daryl, Kevin and Dave hoisting the cable reel onto a stand.

After the heavy real of cable was hoisted onto stands, Frank and I began installing the 500 amp cables from the transmitter’s input transformer to each of the four transmitter cabinets.  There are three 500 amp cables for each cabinet.  Each of these cables is about 1-1/2″ (35mm) in diameter and weighs about 2 pounds per foot.  In addition there are also two 1/0 neutral cables and one 1/0 ground cable.

Frank cutting a cable to length by hand, using this amazing ratcheting cutter.

Every time we wanted to unreel another length of the large cable, we recruited five or six extra helpers to pull the cable through the tray.  We would then terminate both ends before pulling in the next run.  After doing this for the three large cables allocated to one cabinet, we would bundle this group of cables and secure them to each other and the cable tray.  The four bundled groups of cables for the four cabinets need to be spaced equally across the width of the cable tray.  We managed to get the cables ran and terminated to three cabinets and bundled for two of the cabinets.

Photo taken at end of day shows the cables run and the copper coax line which runs perpendicularly under the cables.  The third set of cables have not been bundled yet.

Daryl, Jonas and Dave worked on running the large coax line from the output of the transmitter to the input of the antenna switcher.  This involved a  lot of measuring and cutting of large diameter copper tubing and installing two elbows.

I mentioned previously that a large group of students arrived on Saturday to help TWR.  About half of this group from Waynesburg University are involved in preparing the large old transmitter hall for the dedication celebrations on January 30.  What a transformation is taking place!!

Virginia went grocery shopping with Vera this afternoon for ourselves and for a pizza/salad luncheon that will take place on Friday at noon to ‘thank’ all the visiting workers that have helped this week.  When I arrived ‘home’ after work no one was here, so had to wait for Virginia and Vera to arrive with the key.

We are staying in this corner of Rienstra’s home. Note–the air conditioner for our bedroom/kitchette and the gas bottles for the gas cooking top.

They had stopped for Chinese takeout on their way home, so we ate together this evening. We also enjoyed the sunset from their west-facing porch and had coffee and tea together before retiring earlier to our room this evening, than last night.

Rienstra’s have  a nice porch from which to watch the sun setting over the Caribbean