CM120
CM120
Orderable20 ft Stainless-Steel Tripod with Grounding and Guy Kit
Overview
The CM120 is a 20 ft instrumentation tripod that supports the attachment of sensors, mounts, solar panels, and environmental enclosures. Constructed from stainless steel, the CM120 is easier to transport to remote locations. The tripod can be deployed in uneven terrain and at varying heights. To facilitate sensor attachment, the tripod mast pivots at the leg junction.
Key Advantages
Easy to set up and take down
Technical Description
The CM120 is used as a portable instrument mount in a variety of applications. For meteorological applications, tripods augmented with mounts support the attachment of sensors such as wind sets, pyranometers, and temperature/relative humidity probes. Barometers, soil temperature and moisture probes, and rain gages are also used with tripod-based weather stations. For nonmeteorological applications, tripods can provide a portable instrument mount for enclosures and a mounting point for antennas.
UV-resistant cable ties, grounding kit, and six spikes for the tripod feet are included with the CM120.
Two duckbill anchor kits are offered for securing the guy wires (see Ordering Information). Duckbill anchors are not required to use the guy-wire kits. Without them, the guy wires are run from the mast to the feet of the tripod. Duckbill anchors are recommended for areas subjected to higher winds. They allow the guy wires to be anchored at points beyond the feet, thereby increasing the rating of the tripod for higher winds.
The stainless-steel version of the CM120 began shipping in March 2007. Previous versions were made of aluminum.
Benefits
- Strong and lightweight
- Most joints are locked with pins that are simple to insert and remove
- Individually-adjustable legs allow installation over uneven terrain
- Includes grounding kit
Specifications
- Material
- 304 stainless steel
- Vertical Load Limit
- 45 kg
(100 lb)
- Mast Sections
- 3
- Base Diameter
- 2 m
(7 ft) with legs extended
- Insert Outer Diameter
- 4.45 cm
(1.75 in.)
- Height
- 6 m
(20 ft) with mast insert
- Dimensions
- 15 x 15 x 145 cm
(6 x 6 x 57 in.) for collapsed tripod
- Shipping Weight
- 21 kg
(46 lb)
Mast
- Outer Diameter
- 4.8 cm
(1.9 in.)
- Pipe Size
- 3.81 cm
(1.5 in.) IPS
- Length
- 4.3 m
(14.0 ft) without insert
5.5 m(18.0 ft) with insert
Wind Load Recommendation
- -NOTE-
- This recommendation assumes the guy wire anchors are able to hold at least 1.8 kN (400 lbf).
- Sustained Wind
- 68 kph
(42.25 mph) guyed at feet
104.6 kph(65 mph) guyed at 60°
- Gust Tolerance
- 88.92 kph
(55.25 mph) guyed at feet
136.8 kph(85 mph) guyed at 60°
Tote Bag
- Diameter
- 20 cm
(8 in.)
- Length
- 152 cm
(60 in.)
Accessories
(7)CM204
4 ft Crossarm with One CM210 Mounting Kit
OrderableCM206
6 ft Crossarm with One CM210 Mounting Kit
OrderableCM203
3 ft Crossarm with One CM210 Mounting Kit
OrderableCM202
2 ft Crossarm with One CM210 Mounting Kit
Orderable19192
Tripod Tote for CM110, CM115, or CM120
Orderable19282
Duckbill Standard Anchor Kit
OrderableCM216
Sensor Mounting Kit for Top of Tripod Mast
Orderable
Common Accessories
(2)19192
Tripod Tote for CM110, CM115, or CM120
This heavy-duty fabric bag holds the CM120. The 19192 tote can be carried in one hand.
Orderable19282
Duckbill Standard Anchor Kit
The 19282 are used with the CM120 Guy Wires. In areas not subjected to higher wind speeds, the guy wires are run from the mast to the feet of the tripod. These extension anchors allow the guy wires to be anchored at points further from the center point of the tripod thereby increasing the rating of the tripod for higher wind speeds.
Orderable
Other Accessories
(5)CM216
Sensor Mounting Kit for Top of Tripod Mast
The CM216 Apex Sensor Mount provides a 3/4" or 1"-IPS mounting pipe that extends 4" above the mast. It allows a sensor with a 1.0"- or 1.32"-OD fitting (typically a wind sensor) to be attached to the top of this tripod.
OrderableCM202
2 ft Crossarm with One CM210 Mounting Kit
The CM202 is a 2-ft crossarm that provides a rugged, weather-resistant sensor mount for one sensor (typically).
OrderableCM203
3 ft Crossarm with One CM210 Mounting Kit
The CM203 is a 3-ft crossarm that provides a rugged, weather-resistant sensor mount for one sensor (typically).
OrderableCM204
4 ft Crossarm with One CM210 Mounting Kit
The CM204 is a 4-ft crossarm that provides a rugged, weather-resistant sensor mount for one or two sensors.
OrderableCM206
6 ft Crossarm with One CM210 Mounting Kit
The CM206 is a 6-ft crossarm that provides a rugged, weather-resistant sensor mount for one or two sensors.
Orderable
Replacement Parts
(9)19240
Guy Kit for Stainless-Steel CM115 or CM120
This guy kit is included with CM120 purchase. The 19240 can be ordered independently of the tripod in case one is needed for replacement purposes.
Orderable19238
Tripod Grounding Kit for Stainless-Steel CM110-Series Tripods
This kit is included with the CM120 purchase, but may be also ordered as an replacement item. The 19238 consists of a lightning rod, ground rod, and components to connect the datalogger enclosure and tripod to the ground rod.
Orderable850
Tripod or Tower Lightning Rod
The 850 may be ordered to replace a lost or damaged lightning rod.
Orderable17049
Galvanized Steel Grounding Spike 1/2 x 16
The 17049 may be purchased to replace a lost or damaged spike.
Orderable2830
Grounding Rod Clamp 1/2-1
This clamp attaches a grounding rod onto the tripod, tower, or ET pole. The 2830 may be purchased to replace a lost or damaged clamp.
Orderable2834
12 AWG THHN INS Solid Copper Green Wire
This 12 AWG copper wire provides a ground lug-to-tripod ground connection. The 2834 orders the copper wire only; hardware for attaching the wire is not provided.
Orderable2832
Copper-Clad Grounding Rod
The 2832 may be purchased to replace a lost or damaged grounding rod. Properly grounding a tripod or tower helps protect the equipment from lightning.
Orderable1013
3/8 x 1/2-1 Clamp for Lightning Rod
This clamp attaches the lightning rod onto our tripods and towers. The 1013 is shipped with our tripods and towers, and it may be purchased to replace a lost or damaged clamp.
Orderable39572
UV-Resistant 18 in. Cable Ties (quantity of 10)
The 39572 includes 10 of the 45.7 cm (18.1 in.) black, UV-resistant cable ties (pn 39333). These cable ties are often used with tripods and towers, and this 10-unit pack can be purchased as a replacement item. A connection is made by pulling the tapered end through the locking end, thus forming a loop. The free end is pulled tight to secure the cable tie, then trimmed back to the locking end. Once attached, the cable tie must be cut to be removed.
Orderable
Ships With
(8)39572
UV-Resistant 18 in. Cable Ties (quantity of 10)
Orderable19240
Guy Kit for Stainless-Steel CM115 or CM120
Orderable850
Tripod or Tower Lightning Rod
Orderable1013
3/8 x 1/2-1 Clamp for Lightning Rod
Orderable17049
Galvanized Steel Grounding Spike 1/2 x 16
OrderableQty 62830
Grounding Rod Clamp 1/2-1
Orderable2832
Copper-Clad Grounding Rod
Orderable2834
12 AWG THHN INS Solid Copper Green Wire
Orderable
Compatibility
Enclosures
The ENC16/18 cannot be mounted to the CM120's leg base, as the enclosure is too large for the space.
Enclosure Brackets
The “-MM” mount option for our environmental enclosures is intended for mounting the enclosure to a tripod's mast. An enclosure ordered with this option will be shipped with a three-piece bracket mounted to the top of the enclosure and an identical three-piece bracket mounted to the bottom of the enclosure.
The "-LM" mount option for our environmental enclosures allows the enclosure to be attached to the leg base of the CM120. This option includes a metal flange, two brackets, and a 2.5" u-bolt. The brackets attach to the right and left side of the enclosure, and the flange attaches to the tripod near the mast. The flange fits into a notch in one of the brackets, and the other bracket connects to a tripod leg via the u-bolt.
Compatible Products
(6)CM202
2 ft Crossarm with One CM210 Mounting Kit
OrderableNotes—CM202SS
2 ft Stainless-Steel Crossarm with One CM210 Mounting Kit
OrderableNotes—CM203
3 ft Crossarm with One CM210 Mounting Kit
OrderableNotes—CM204
4 ft Crossarm with One CM210 Mounting Kit
OrderableNotes—CM204SS
4 ft Stainless-Steel Crossarm with One CM210 Mounting Kit
OrderableNotes—CM206
6 ft Crossarm with One CM210 Mounting Kit
OrderableNotes—
Related Resources
Documents
- Brochure
CM110, CM115, and CM120 Light-Weight Instrumentation Tripods
June 2018
View Document - Manual
CM110, CM115, CM120 Product Manual (online)
View Document - Brochure
CM120 20 ft Stainless-Steel Tripod
March 2026
View Document - Compliance
CM110, CM115 and CM120 EU Declaration of Conformity
August 2025
View Document
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