shade needed for instrument

I know this is not answering your question, but if it's too hot or cold for my robot to work, it's probably too hot or cold for me to work. Of course though, I don't work in Death Valley or Alaska.

I can't give you a handy link but I've seen advertisements for umbellas that hook into the Reese hitch on your truck. They seem very sturdy and safe. I'm with you on your concern about a $100 umbrella taking out a $30,000 robot.

I have contemplated one of the 10x10 canopies available from many vendors, I just have not forked out the $ for one yet. The issues would be if the canopy would kite away under a good wind. You would have to stake it down or add weight to the feet.

Bryan,

I have one of the 10' x 10' canopies and they are pretty stable. I've set it up in my yard with summer time breezes of around 10-15 mph with little to no movement while using the "stakes" supplied with the canopy.

If setting the canopy up over my instrument I would probably use some type of sandbag to weight the canopy down to avoid accidents.

If not using a robotic instrument that would probably occupy the same spot for extended periods of time, I would probably look into something else. The canopy doesn't set up and tear down in record setting pace.

...if it's too hot or cold for my robot to work, it's probably too hot or cold for me to work...

Ain't no 'probably' about it. Aside from the obvious safety issues, always some office work to do.

But I suppose he could hire a helper to hold it. It wouldn't have to be that long anyway (see primary excuse). I know I'd never hook one to my tripod, and I want my truck by me - not the robot.

I could see one of those 10x10 tent things people have at the beach, but they blow over all the time and I can see where there would be H.I. problems. Pretty common for me to have a 7' HI so I can see over vehicles, etc.

Frank,
I've used an umbrella, I think from Forestry Suppliers or Ben Meadows. I tie it off to a pvc pipe, about 2" diameter and about 3' long, (what we use for surf casting at the beach) and I've not had a problem with it, ever...

of course it's rare that i use it since it's mostly for long setups doing topo or stake out.

Don

The instrument is obviously smarter than you when it comes to working in this heat.

I just got in from a brutal day and the truck said 107 deg. I would be high fiving the robot if it called it quits.

An outside shower with well water from 800' down is in my near future. Good thing I have no neighbors to worry about.:-P

Randy

Randy

Amen on the cold well water shower. I've taken many of those when I was growing up. A doctor from town had a cabin next to our farm that had a swimming pool fed by an artesian well, water flowed in one side and out the other. Many times while mowing or plowing I'd stop for lunch, strip off, and dive in. Of course this was out in the woods miles from the nearest public road. The pool was good for keeping watermelons cool for that lunch too.

Andy

We get an extra tripod and put it in the ground next to the total station. Get a 7' or 8' umbrella and put the pole for the umbrella through the head of the tripod. It's not fool proof, but i have never had one blow over.

We had a big topo a few years ago we had to finish up over the weekend, drawing had to be done Monday afternoon. Needless to say a huge storm blanketed the area for the weekend. So, we bought a 10x10 tailgating tent and used tent stakes and bags of hubs to hold it down. The instrument man loved his job... We brought rain jackets for me and the rod man... It was one hellofa weekend...

Try a mantis umbrella at

http://www.pro-techt.com/

If the instrument shuts down, it's time to cut line.

Bryan! Are you kidding me! Armondo would say it's time to get stepping!

Damnation Gene, you Texas boys are tough...

Then again 'cutting line' is a mere memory to me... it was always fun in the Northwoods, but sure don't miss it.

Didn't Andy Nold post about burning his back with a hot machete? He must have worked for you 😛

Its funny to listen to you northern guys talk about how hot it is, and to quit work because of it.

On some of the projects that we are doing now in South Texas, I would be laughed at and probably fired off the project if I said we were going to stop working because of the heat.

I will say though, that I have to supervise a bridge as-built on a I-10 bridge next Tuesday, and I am not looking forward to that.

Actually it was a sledge hammer placed briefly (oh so briefly) under my armpit while my hands were full.

I actually used my cloth gloves today. No burnt fingers when handling the two-bit rebar.

Staking today was done at an approximate temperature of 103°F (39°C for our metric members). If we stopped working every time it was over 100°, then we wouldn't get anything done til late September.

I keep a big golf umbrella ($12 at target)and a 7' shepards hook planter holder ($11 @ Harbor freight)in the truck. Takes a second to bungee them together for shade or if rain starts and I only need a few more shots. Works great.

WOW - I stuck a hammock pole (not pole cat) in my armpit
the other week - freakin threw it after about second.
Wow that hurt. It had to be 140+
Thinking - I can do this for 1/2 a second.

ok now

I have used a cheap golf umbrella like JB and kept a piece of 1/2" rebar in the truck cut the same length as the truck bed so it would fit. Drive the rebar in and duct tape the umbrella to it. This was for drizzle but it would work for sun. Wind might be a problem but the umbrella is light enough not to do any damage. You could put it on the downwind side of the robot.

James

Would be wary with umbrella!

tried it a couple of times using a beach umbrella anchored to a steel dropper. Conditions were hot and windless. Well here in OZ we get willie-willies that spring up out of no where when there are heat differentials. One such trashing the umbrella.

So if it is over 100F, I will these days not start and will knock off if I know I can not finish. These days DU construction sites will not even let you work.

RADU