X

Please provide your info to request free demo or reserve system!

Thank you! A representative will be contacting you soon!


Exit





Aluminum Vs Carbon Fiber: Which Option is Best for a Telescoping Endzone Camera Pole

Aluminum Vs Carbon Fiber: Which Option is Best for a Telescoping Endzone Camera Pole

Perhaps the most important part of an End Zone Telescoping system is the tower pole itself. Everything, quite literally, hangs on this one piece of equipment. Therefore, what your tower is made of is extremely important. Endzone Camera producers have a choice as to what material they want to make their tower out of. Some opt for steel and others may select aluminum. One trend is to opt for carbon fiber. Today we'll discuss why this is not ideal and why aluminum is superior.

Aluminum is Heavier, and Therefore Sturdier

Endzone Camera manufacturers, such as Hi Rise Camera, use carbon fiber because of its high strength-to-weight ratio and its lack of weight. We'll discuss why the strength-to-weight ratio is irrelevant below, but for now let's address the benefits, or lack thereof, of being light weight.

The benefit of being light weight is that the tower is slightly easier to transport. But that's about it. Otherwise being light weight is a major detriment. A lighter telescoping pole is going to sway more in the wind and has a much higher risk of blowing over than a heavy aluminum tower like the Sport Scope. The benefit of your tower being sturdy far outweighs the very mild benefit of being easier to move during transportation.


Carbon Fiber can Crack

While carbon fiber has an excellent strength-to-weight ratio, that doesn't mean it isn't susceptible to cracking. How, or in what direction, pressure is applied to carbon fiber makes a big difference. It's well known that carbon fiber is strong when stretched or bent, but weak when compressed or exposed to high shock.

If you over-tighten the clamps on your carbon fiber pole you risk cracking the material and compromising the entire tower. Or if you accidentally drop it, the impact could crack the pole. The worst that can happen to a heavy duty aluminum tower, such as the Sport Scope, is that you may incure a small cosmetic dent under such an incident.


Not All Aluminum is the Same

The argument that pound for pound, carbon fiber is stronger than aluminum is often invoked by producers of carbon fiber telescoping endzone towers, such as the Hi Rise Camera. But as alluded to above, this is a moot point. It's almost as if we're assuming an aluminum tower is going to act like a soda can because technically they're made out of the same material.

This, of course, is ridiculous. Aluminum can be made very strong and amazingly stiff. So while the strength factor may not be more than carbon fiber per square inch, that in no way implies that the tower, as a whole, is not stronger. In fact, we argue that an aluminum tower is stronger in total. What good is a higher strength-density ratio if the telescoping pole as a whole cannot handle the same elements and durability testing as a heavier aluminum tower? That's a huge distinction and that's what matters.

Sport Scope towers are produced with incredibly strong aluminum so the thought of our towers bending, warping, cracking, or vibrating is a non-concern. That's why our towers come with a 10-year warranty. Our confidence in our towers' durability and resilience is of the highest degree.


Sport Scope has a wide array of Endzone Camera models to fit nearly any football program on any budget. EDGE Replay allows you to connect any camera and distribute instant Sideline Replay to the coaches' iPads. Our 30-foot Smart Endzone Camera gives you the power to control the Endzone Tower and record all replay-connected camera angles at the same time! And the 1st year of the built-in replay service is free!

Right now we're slashing prices like we've never done before. Get up to $500 OFF your purchase for a limited time only! Call (888) 335-7875 to take advantage of our very special Novemeber and December promotions to lock in the best price for your 2019 system!


Posted on December 7, 2018