Telescoping poles for data acquisition: anybody got something really good they'd like to share. I've found some via search, one being "wonder pole" among others; but, what is the consenus of opinions?

I need one! Really good and break-away.

Sam,
There was a great thread on these poles back in '05. I made one myself with a painters' pole after I saw these. Here it is, if I did this right: http://maintenanceforums.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3751089...141034311#9141034311.

Sam,

I have made several extension poles that are not adjustable, but are so cheap that you can easily afford to leave them at any site.

The materials required are a 10' piece of 1" conduit, a 10-24 x 1-1/4" screw and a 10-24 nylon locknut. Cut one piece about 8"-10" long. Clamp it in a vise and use a hacksaw (or milling machine if you have one) to cut a slot about 1/2" wide for the full length of the short piece. Drill a clearance hole for the bolt through the long piece of conduit and through the longitudinal center of short piece directly opposite the slot. Bolt them together and tighten to avoid flopping, but loose enough to allow you to swivel it to your requirements. If it is too long, cut it off to whatever length you need.

With a little practice, you can very quickly mount and dismount most accels as long as you are using a magnet with a fairly strong pull. I use the CTC 1 1/4" 2-pole magnets with a 50# pull.

It takes about 15 minutes to make one and costs about $3. For that little cost, I can afford to leave them everywhere I go.

I'll make one today and post some pictures if you are interested.

Danny

Thanks; I'll see if I can post a photo of the end I have. It swivels through ~120 degrees in fairly small increments and can attach to most any pole.

The wonder pole I found (http://www.wonderpole.com) looks good 4-10' extendable and fiberglass @3 lbs. This one seems good and rigid.

I have made some good one's myself that allow for detachent and retrival of the acel so you get a good reading.

But hoping someone had a good and better source. I personally like the detachable setup. Maybe I need to market one??????

I USED RUSTY'S IDEA FROM THAT POST AND IT WORKS GREAT.
PIVOTING INCREMENTAL HEAD WITH SPRING LOADED ADJUSTMENT. ANGLE ADJUSTED BY BUMPING OR PUTTING IT AGAINST SOMETHING AND GIVING A LITTLE PUSH OR A PULL
ALUMINUM ACCELEROMETER HOLDER ALLOWS EASY PLACEMENT AND REMOVAL BY TIPPING THE HEAD AND BREAKING THE MAGNETIC FIELD SO IT 'S NOT DRAGGING OR SNAPPING ONTO THE OBJECT YOUR TAKING DATA FROM.

Wally K

PAINTERS_POLE.doc (1,643 Kb, 60 downloads)

I like your picnic table - how much?

Here's what I'm using; it pivots and swivels.

The wonder pole looks good and compact @3 #'s plus it's fiberglass so it's rigid and break-away.

SAm,

This appears to be unable to release the accel during readings.

Have you noticed any damping or problems with a lower natural frequency when it is attached? How your ability to remain perfectly still when holding the pole?

Mine allows you to mount and release the accel.

Danny

Danny

Sorry; that is just one! It is for measuring furnace fans in the basement - top bearing only. This one doesn't release the transducer but the swivel is great. On this application you're holding vertically balancing the pole much like a suveyor's pole so there's not the reaching back in horizontally problem on this one. On horizontal units the gravity definitely becomes a problem.