Moose O'Malley's Software Valley Established : July 1996 Please bookmark this location only : http://move.to/moose

Overhead Cable Sag Calculator

Program Overview	Future Enhancements	Program Development History
Screen_Shots	Restrictions of Trial Version	Program Pricing
How to Register	Why Register	Benefits of Use
Installation Instructions	Training Videos	Minimum System Requirements
Download	Contact_Details

Program Overview :

UPDATE: All new - Sag Calculator v3.2 - out NOW !!

This new computer program, developed in Queensland (Australia), calculates the sag of overhead conductors and earthwires for transmission and distribution lines.

The program allows you to work in and change between metric or imperial units, and it features context sensitive help and a whole range of advanced features.

The program has two modes of operation :

• Sag Mode for tensioning (or sagging) new cables or for re-tensioning (or re-sagging) existing cables. The required sags must be provided in a schedule or read from a stringing chart.
• Check Mode for checking tensions (or sags) in new or existing cables. In this mode the actual sag is measured.

The rationale adopted for this program has been to keep the user inputs as simple as possible and to perform the task with the least complicated equipment possible. Therefore conductor tension constraints are not required; conductor properties are not required for the majority of methods and distance measurements are a last resort.

Sag and/or check modes can be performed using a variety of methods :

• Tangent sighting methods :
  • Sightboard method
  • Level sighting method
  • Single span tangent sighting method
  • Two span tangent sighting method
• Timing methods :
  • Travelling wave method
  • Pendulum or swing method
• Tension methods :
  • Series dynamometer method
  • Shunt dynamometer method
• Clearance methods :
  • Height stick method
  • Two span offset method
• Other methods :
  • Clino 1 Span
  • Clino 2 Span

The program stores the data for each cable (phase, subconductor, earthwire or pilot cable) that is sagged or checked within each span. A project file would normally be setup for each feeder that is sagged. Provided that structure numbers are unique, one file would suffice for checking sags. However the tensions do depend upon the conductor type.

A basic report of Actual Sags (check mode) and Required Sags (sag mode) can also be generated by the program.

Further information about the program can be obtained in the on-line help (included with the program - see Download below).

Future Program Enhancements / Changes :

See the On-Line help that comes with the program.

Program Development History :

See the On-Line help that comes with the program for full details.

Screen Shots :

Screen shots of the program in action are available here.

Restrictions of Trial Version :

Until you Register your usage of the program, the program is a "demonstration" or "trial" version, and it will be limited in its usefullness / functionality, as follows :
1. The user cannot save any data to disk,

2. The user cannot print the report, or copy report data to the Windows' clipboard.

3. Every now and again you will be informed of how many times you have run the program and asked to consider registering your usage of it.

Registering the program (i.e. completing the Registration Form and purchasing the program), will remove all limitations for the current version of the program.

Program Pricing :

Price per Copy of the Program per User	Price
Sag Calculator v3.x	$350 AUD (per User) (Australian Dollars)
Sag Calculator v3.x PLUS Training Videos	$500 AUD (per User) (Australian Dollars)
Sag Calculator Training Videos (just the videos) (For Registered Users. A discount is provided for multiple copies and site licenses)	$150 AUD (per User) (Australian Dollars)
Upgrade to Version 3.x from v2.x or v1.x For people who have already purchased any previous version of the program.	$100 AUD (Australian Dollars)

Generous discount are provided for multiple purchases and site licenses - please Email me for details. The above pricing is in Australian Dollars. All prices include GST where applicable. Bulk purchase discounts and site license discounts are also available. Special / customised versions of the program can be arranged. Credit Cards (Visa, MasterCard, and Bankcard), and PayPal are acceptable payment methods. See the Registration Form for further information. Please Email me if you aren't sure of anything.

How to Register ?

Complete the Registration Form (included with the program), and Email me it to me. You can also download the Registration Form by clicking here. (This is a Rich Text File which can be loaded into a Word Processor or Wordpad and filled in / printed). For pricing details, please see Program Pricing above. Upon receipt of your completed Registration Form, your payment will be verified with the bank, and a special individual Registration Code will be e-mailed out to you, along with details of how to obtain the fully functional Full Version of the program. This special Registration Code will unlock the full functionality of the current Full Version of the program. You should receive this special Registration Code and other details via e-mail within a few days of receipt of your completed Registration Form. N.B. My Australian Business Number is on the bottom of the Registration Form .

What Do **YOU** Get for Your Money ?

1. FREE fast and friendly technical support from the program's author via e-mail.
   (Why not Email me now and put me to the test ?)
2. Access to the full functionality of the current version of the program.
3. Discounts on program upgrades in the future.
4. A greater say in future developments / enhancements to the program.
5. Notification by e-mail when the program is upgraded.
6. A big thank you from me !

Benefits of Using the Program

1. The program comes with a suite of methods for sagging cables and for checking the cable sag.
2. Each method has been field tested and the results have been confirmed by independent calculations.
3. There is a method to suit the most demanding situations, including the case where the sag is greater than the structure height such as occurs in rugged terrain.
4. There is extensive on-line help with practical advice regarding the advantages and disadvantages of each method.
5. You can even sag spans where one or both of the supporting structures have been moved during construction but the sagging schedules is not up-to-date.
6. The program allows you to vary any input parameter to see how sensitive the output parameter is to this change. This will give you a feel for the degree of control that you exercise with each method.
7. The time saving methods will allow more spans to be sagged than would traditionally be sagged using the sight board method. This means that the constructed tensions will be much closer to their design values, thus ensuring statutory ground clearances are met.
8. Each variable used in the calculations is saved in the event of a future audit requiring resolutionve a conflict.
9. A summary report of sags can be printed at the end of the project.

Installation Instructions

NOTE: You will receive fully explained step-by-step instructions when you register (i.e. purchase) Sag Calculator.

Here is a summary of the instalation instructions.

• ** Step 1 of 4: Download the ZIP file .
  (Registered users should download the ZIP file that is provided with their Registration Confirmation email).

• ** Step 2 of 4: Extract the contents of the ZIP file.
  Run installer EXE as "administrator"

• ** Step 3 of 4: Windows Vista, 7, etc download Windows Help support:
  http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=82148
  You will probably need to run Microsoft Genuine Advantage when prompted.

• ** Step 4 of 4: Registered users only: run Sag Calculator as "administrator" and
  enter Registration codes provided (Registered users only).

NOTE: You will receive fully explained step-by-step instructions when you register (i.e. purchase) Sag Calculator.

Training Videos

I have created a series of training videos for Overhead Cable Sag Calculator in which I cover everything from installation, the basics, and advanced features and usage. By watching these videos you will be able to come up-to-speed on using Sag Calculator very quickly. So far there are 3 training videos: Training Video #1: Sag v3.x Installation Walkthrough (running time: 8:52) Training Video #2: Sag v3.x The Basics (running time: 48:42) Training Video #3: Sag v3.x Advanced Topics (running time: 9:56) These videos can be purchased when you register Sag Calculator, or registered users can purchase them at any time in the future. See Program Pricing above. More videos will be created / added in the future (if they are supported).

Minimum System Requirements :

1. IBM Compatible PC (or computer capable of PC emulation - such as a Mac with Soft Windows). (A laptop would normally be used in the field.)
2. Pentium 60 or higher with at least 8 MB RAM.
3. Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista (32 bit), and similar.
4. VGA Colour Display or LCD Screen.
5. Mouse & Keyboard.

Download latest Trial Version :

The program is for computers running Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista, and Windows 7, and similar.

The latest version of the program has been fully tested against a 36 page written test plan containing more than 350 tests. In addition, the program has been independently tested and verified by Ergon Energy Australia.

So far, the program has required in excess of 300 hours of development time, and its source code consists of more than 88,000 lines of Delphi program code.

The following download option is available :

1. Sag Calculator__v3.3__TRIAL_Installer.zip
   

   Download the Sag Calculator__v3.3__TRIAL_Installer.zip file to a temporary directory (such as c:\temp\), and use WinZIP or similar ZIP file extractor to extract the Sag_Calculator_Installer_Trial.exe installer executable and then run / execute this to install the Sag Calculator program, its on-line help, the registration form, a demo project, and setup the program's folder and icons. See the Installation Instructions above for further details.

If you have problems with any of the above downloads, Email me and I will e-mail the program to you, or make other arrangements to get the program to you.

To remove the restrictions of the Trial Version of the program, please Register your usage of the program.

Contacting the Program's Author : For further information, please contact the program's author via e-mail : Mike O'Malley

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