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Installation Instructions
4

Installation Instructions

Installation Instructions

(OP)
Background:
I am wriing an Installation Manual for a Sheet Metal Cabinet, hanging from a utility pole.

The section for mounting to a wooden pole currently states:

Materials Required:
Two 5/8” UNC Grade 5 Machine Bolts
Two 5/8” Flat Washers (Zinc Plated)
Two 5/8” UNC Grade 5 Hex Nuts

My question is this, I want to put the metric values in the manual as well, this is going to be primarily used in Canada.  Any suggestions on the best way to do it, should I inclued the metric and inch values on each line, should I have seperate sections for the two, should I only use one or the other???  

First install manual and I am not sure which is the best way to go.  Thanks in advance for input.

RE: Installation Instructions

Canadian Instructions, eh:
You need two bolts about the size of a Labatt's cap, eh, with washers and nuts to go with them.  You got that eh?

RE: Installation Instructions

I'll leave the question for others more qualified. But why are you using plated hardware on a treated (I assume) utility pole? Must be a temporary installation. If it's not, use hot dip galvanized or stainless hardware.

RE: Installation Instructions

A 5/8" UNC bolt is a 5/8" UNC bolt whether you are in a Metric or Imperial country.

Steve is correct about the plating.

You should have four washers - under the head of the bolt and under the nut.

RE: Installation Instructions

I've seen a lot of specs with the primary units followed by the other units in parentheses.  Try that and see how messy it looks.  

Check & see if metric hardware really is available in Canada, or if it's really imperial with soft-converted dimensions.  If it is, you might just do inches.  On the other hand, if they really do have true metric fasteners, and it'll ONLY be used in Canada, might as well just do metric.  If it'll be used in the US as well, and both kinds of hardware are available, you'll need both.

It's really more about readability than correct formatting, though.  If you need both units and putting them in one line is too confusing, have two sections.

Hg

RE: Installation Instructions

I really like IvyMike's answer, but as an international distributor who has crossed this hurdle many times I'll give you my opinion too.

Pick the largest metric size that will go thru your holes, and add it as a separate table to the side of your existing table.  We have found that doing anything else (such as including metric dimensions in parentheses) will sometimes offend.  Keep your foreign customers happy; don't make their measurement system look like an afterthought.

Let us know what you decide!

Best to ya,

Old Dave

RE: Installation Instructions

I forgot to say:

If you are going to use both units and it'll primarily be used in Canada, then if anything goes in parentheses it should be the inches.  The official measurement system of the target country is the primary unit.

Hg

RE: Installation Instructions

(OP)
As for the plated washer - This was extracted from current procedure, I believe the choice is based on minimum acceptable conditions by regional code.  I like the labbats caps, that would probably be most effective.  I guess I will probably go with what I have and possibly add (metric equiv in parenthesis) the cabinet is going to be CSA Certified, but the inspections will be done in the US.  The instructions are more or less a formality for the CSA cert, the guys in the field will do it their way no matter what information I put.  At least our buts are covered and the instructions will be clear to use X unless regional codes dictate otherwise, besides any mounting methods will have to approved by the utility company that owns the pole.

RE: Installation Instructions

2
For most dual units documents, the best procedure is to use parentheses.  For example:

1 inch (25 mm) diameter

For your fasteners, unfortunately, it doesn't make much sense to convert because a 5/8" inch bolt carries with it more dimensional requirements than just a 0.625 inch outer diameter.

You could specify metric fasteners as a second choice:

Two 5/8” UNC Grade 5 or M16 8.8 Machine Bolts
Two 5/8” or 16 mm Flat Washers (Zinc Plated)
Two 5/8” UNC Grade 5 or M16 8.8 Hex Nuts



Regards,

Cory

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

RE: Installation Instructions

Actually, a Labatts cap OD is quite a bit larger than 5/8".  However, I think that 5/8" is the largest diameter standard SAE fastener that will fit in the ID of a Labatts bottle neck.  A 16mm bolt should also fit, so the instruction could read:

"Open up a Labatts, eh, and pour it into a mug.  Getch'er self two bolts.  Not so big that they don't fit down the bottle neck, eh, but not so small that they fall all the way in the bottle, and some nuts and washers to match..."

RE: Installation Instructions

ivymike & MintJulep ... Hey hosers ... Nice take on the McKenzie Brothers, eh, but that should be Molsons not Labbatts ...

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Academy/9134/

http://www.losergeek.org/~niklas/bobanddoug.com/old/bdsounds.html#FullTracks


Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies FAQ731-376
Making the best use of this Forum.  FAQ559-716
How to get answers to your SW questions.  FAQ559-1091
Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of.  FAQ559-520

RE: Installation Instructions

aamoroso
I'm assuming that your company is supplying the sheet metal cabinets because the Canadians are too busy dealing with Labbatts etc to make their own. If that is so why not supply the 5/8" nuts bolts & washers as part of the kit?

RE: Installation Instructions

I agree with CoryPad's way of doing it.

To be honest, even though we're "metric" up here, a large part of what we do is still based on inch measurements. If I head down to the hardware store, I would have a much easier time finding 5/8" fasteners than I would finding M16 8.8 (Unless its one of those monster home depot or rona stores. In that case I can't find ANYTHING).

That being said, you could probably get away with just the 5/8" UNC specification. But I'm not sure what the standards are for your application, so you may have to indicate metric sizes to meet them.

If the hoser reading the instructions can't figure out what a 5/8" UNC bolt/nut/washer is, then he shouldn't be at the top of that pole, eh?

RE: Installation Instructions

I want to go off topic, and risk censure - whoever came up with the brilliant idea of mixing metric and English bolts on American cars should be exiled to a desert island.

RE: Installation Instructions

(OP)
rnd2:

We probably will supply the brackets but liability issues and the certification are the main reason the directions and details.  The cabinets are going up on the Utility poles and then are going to have over 700 pounds of batteries and electrical equipment in them so mounting properly is key.  If disaster ever strikes the directive to use proper hardware and mounting method will be one of the first things reviewed.  The fortunate part is the utility company must approve installation.

RE: Installation Instructions

I agree with CoryPad as well.  List the metric equivalent in parentheses or square brackets to allow the installer the option (if within specs).

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: Installation Instructions

Falseprecision--that's what happens when you make the engine in Japan and then install it into the frame in the US.  

Hg

RE: Installation Instructions

HqTX,
LOL - I know. And after the 1994 Phewick "Century" (hah)and the 1989 CanHearEveryValveRappingOnLongExtendTrips S-10 minitruck, my wife and I are now both satisfied Honda owners.
Too bad cars aren't made like the 1974-1975 Buick Century/Olds Cutlass anymore.

RE: Installation Instructions

I also like Cory's approach, but separate it better. I would use a section metric, and a section imperial units. Do not put the metric bolt on the same line as the imperial one if both units are commonly used (Industries with equipment from all over the world).

Some nut will try to screw a M16 nut on the 5/8"UNC x 3"

Murphy's Law

Steven van Els
SAvanEls@cq-link.sr

RE: Installation Instructions

I think you option guys are just tooooo nice. Mint Julep has the right idea................."A 5/8" UNC bolt is a 5/8" UNC bolt whether you are in a Metric or Imperial country.
Dammit, THERE IS ONE & ONE ONLY OPTIMUM BOLT, WASHER, & NUT ASSEMBLY FOR THIS JOB. Now I say, SELECT IT AND STICK TO IT. If you have to supply it with the assembly so what? The site guys that want to use something LESS THAN OPTIMUM well then, that's up to them but, they are on their own the moment they opt to go away from the optimum.

RE: Installation Instructions


I agree with rnd2. Somewhere, some time, a professional engineer called a designer specified what fasteners he wanted to put the whole shebang together.

A 5/8 UNC bolt is not the same as a 5/8 UNF or an M16 or any of the other hundred or so similar-sized thread forms that exist in the world. In many applications the selection is not critical, but it's not the installer's right or privelege to change it.

We exist in an increasingly litigious world where blame has to be attributed to every failure. Change the designer's specification at your peril.

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