HATNet installation to FLWO began in 2003 October. There was a spagetti
of cables going to the small controll shed. Some connections have been
compromised by a pack-rat. Wayne Peters and Emilio Falco on the photo
are trying to sort out the cables before pulling them out using the
truck and Sam's help (see in the background).
Preparation for casting the concrete piers. First we marked the
potential position of HAT-5, 6 and 7 telescope piers. Then a hilti was
used to break up the asphalt.
Quite an arsenal of machines for making the job quick.
Pouring the concrete in the cardboard tubes that are supported by a
firm concrete pad, and steel-rebars in the inside.
This little combination of a torch, a bar and an engineer's square was
used for aligning the top metal plate in the NS direction during the
night, and using Polaris (well, the position of the Pole, slightly
offset from Polaris).
Sam was one of our great help, in addition to Dave and Roger.
After all plates have been polar aligned, we poured in the rest of the
concrete to fix their position.
I started building HAT-5 on the pier as soon as the concrete was solid.
The reader can see the bottom of the enclosure and the horseshoe mount.
November at FLWO can be quite gloomy. I had to cover HAT5 with plastic,
since it was not sealed yet.
A bit later, when the weather cleared up, and I made good progress again.
HAT-5 (and later on HAT-10) need a ladder to access.
The other two HAT instruments that went to the site are so-called
"barefoot" HATs that can be reached without climbing. I wish all were such.
This is HAT-5 from a different view.
A thick grey liquid-tight tube for the cables connects the control shed
(not shown) and HAT-5.