Installing a Relay in an exposed location

Mounting Relays on Waratahs in exposed and remote locations, particularly at high-altitude can result in Waratahs (aka Star-Pickets or Y-Posts) oscillating in the wind. This is more likely the longer and thinner the Waratah is and is more common with non-farm grade Waratahs supplied at hardware stores. Genuine Waratah branded posts from a farm retailer like PGG Wrightsons, Farmlands, Farm Source or Elders are best for rigidity and least prone to bending during installation. 

Where a remote Relay installation in an exposed location is required it is recommended to secure the Waratah from being oscillated loose or being blown over in extreme weather using 3 x guy wires secured at 120 degrees to each other using 3 x smaller Waratahs as ground-stakes.

An 8mm Eye Bolt with matching Eye Nut can be fastened through one of the uppermost holes on the spine of the Waratah. 

1 x https://www.bunnings.co.nz/pinnacle-35-x-55-x-8mm-m8-zinc-plated-eye-bolt_p3961212

1 x https://www.bunnings.co.nz/pinnacle-35-x-37-x-8mm-m8-zinc-plated-eye-nut_p3961215

Mount the the Eye Bolt through one of the uppermost holes on the spine of the Waratah near the top and fasten the matching Eye Nut to it.

This becomes the mounting point for securing 2 x of the three guy wires. The 3^rd guy wire will get connected to another hole on the spine of the Waratah. The eye bolt/nut can be fastened tight to the Waratah using 2 x Adjustable Crescents in the workshop (at least 100mm below the top of the Waratah), before heading in the field so you don’t lose it.

Guy Wires 3 x 3m:

Guy wires should be pre-assembled in a workshop.

1 x 10m roll https://www.bunnings.co.nz/pinnacle-3-2mm-x-10m-316-marine-grade-stainless-steel-wire-rope_p0358168

Cutters or an angle grinder (ideally with a cutting disk) are necessary to cut the wire rope in to 3 x 3m lengths. Please use appropriate safety gear (eye & hearing protection, gloves and secure the wire rope using workshop tools before cutting) 

Join the wire rope with a loop at the end using 2 x wire rope grips for each guy wire and a thimble in the loop:

1 x bag of 12 https://www.bunnings.co.nz/taskmaster-3mm-316-stainless-steel-wire-rope-grips-12-pack_p0237910

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/taskmaster-3mm-316-stainless-steel-rope-thimble-12-pack_p0237966

Tighten (11mm) on wire rope grips using matching socket and/or spanner), it is tight so having the right tools in the workshop helps.

Connect the guy wires to the eye bolts (in the field) once the eye bolt/nut is attached to the waratah using carabiners:

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/taskmaster-6-x-60mm-316-stainless-steel-snap-hook-10-pack_p0524499

Ground Mounts - Fence Strainers and Waratahs:

The guy wires need to be connected to fence strainers:

3 x https://www.bunnings.co.nz/pel-pa8-spring-clip-strainer-10-pack_p0303049 (this listing is a 10-pack of strainers, you just need 3 strainers).

Fence strainers connected to 0.8m Waratahs at the lowest possible mounting hole just above ground using:

3 x https://www.bunnings.co.nz/taskmaster-6mm-316-stainless-steel-swivel_p0238010

3 x https://www.bunnings.co.nz/summit-steel-wire-0-8m-black-y-post_p0314789

Tools - Remember to take:

• Sledgehammer to drive the waratahs.
• 2 x ˜300mm Adjustable Crescents to tighten the strainers and the eye-bolts.
• Use a Spirit Level app (free on AppStore / Playstore) on your phone to ensure the waratah is mounted straight up and down. Important in this location due to the distance, a couple of degrees can have a large effect on signal strength at 10km+