The Gripper II Wireless Cable Tension Meter For Auto Pilot-Bridal Cables

Description

The Sprague Instruments CTR-BCWL-60 is a wireless digital bridle cable tension meter purpose-built for the specific demands of autopilot servo bridle cable inspection and rigging. Where the CTR-GAWL-150 is optimized for primary flight control cables at up to 150 lbs, the CTR-BCWL-60 is calibrated for the light, small-diameter bridle cables that autopilot servos use — covering 10–60 lbs across 1/16", 3/32", and 1/8" cable sizes, with the same wireless Bluetooth 4.2 two-unit platform transmitting real-time tension data to a handheld display up to 10 meters (33 feet) away. It is the successor to the CTR-BCWL-30, doubling the upper range from 30 to 60 lbs to cover the broader spread of bridle cable tension specifications found across current aircraft platforms.Why Bridle Cables Need Their Own InstrumentBridle cables are typically short, small-diameter, and tensioned to tight specifications in confined areas of the aircraft — a combination that creates real measurement challenges. On a 10–150 lb instrument like the CTR-GAWL-150, a 25 lb bridle cable reading represents only one-sixth of full scale — a position on the dial or display where small absolute errors represent large percentage errors relative to the actual tension. The CTR-BCWL-60’s 10–60 lb range fills the display with the tension zone where bridle cables actually operate, providing far better resolution and confidence at the tension values that matter. The compact sensor head (2.5"L x 1.25"D x 1.5"H) fits into the tight spaces where bridle cables are routed. And the wireless link means the technician can monitor tension in real time while adjusting the servo — watching the reading change as the adjustment screw turns — without ever moving away from the work to check a dial. The live temperature display in selectable °C or °F integrates directly with the tension readout, supporting temperature-corrected tension specifications without a separate thermometer. With ±3% full-scale accuracy, no calibration chart, and no riser selection, the CTR-BCWL-60 is the straightforward digital answer to a task that mechanical instruments complicate.