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[TowerTalk] AMP Fusion Tape - Response from DAVIS RF Co.

To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] AMP Fusion Tape - Response from DAVIS RF Co.
From: "Steve Davis -Davis RF Co." <sdavis@davisrf.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:44:01 -0500
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Hi gentleman,
I am responding to several of the comments.  Before I saw these comments, I 
had answered Terry's original question as to how AMP Fusion tape works, 
directly to him. I didn't copy it to TT, but in short, it seals based  on a 
form of chemical process.  I am not a chemist and when I checked this fusion 
tape out years ago prior to selling it I had the explanation from AMP. I 
mentioned in the original posting (below) an opinion by an engineer (not 
assoctd with AMP) as to how this stuff works.

In fairness to some other inputs, there are several "fusion tapes" out 
there, but AMP is not the same (or expensive) as "rescue tape" and it is not 
held on, or waterproofed, "gasket type seal" or by "wrapping it 
tightly"...maybe some other tape does this.  There is a synthetic backing 
which you pull off, then you stretch the tape just a bit by pulling it 
between your hands, which activates the process. If you don't "activate" it 
, it won't do squat. I use it, have compared it to Coax Seal Tm, liquid 
marine tape , yada , yada....even used it on buried 220 Volt line that broke 
and had my friends horses jumpin in a 29 VAC moist ground.  It's great 
stuff, that's why I added it to our products.  A very clear picture of the 
tape and backing peeled off will be on our site likely by next week.
73,   Steve  K1PEK
DAVIS RF Co.

sdavis@DavisRF.com

978-369-1738

~ Davis RF Co., Div. of Orion Wire Co.,Inc.
Distribution to numerous industries,  Andrew
Heliax; Times Microwave LMR; RFS Celwave and others.
Cable design engineering. RF Peripherals.
www.DavisRF.com
Tel: 1-800-328-4773 (1-800-DAVIS RF) Tech'l: 1-978-369-
1738, Fax: 1-978-369-3484



---- Original Message ----- 
From: <towertalk-request@contesting.com>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 5:27 PM
Subject: TowerTalk Digest, Vol 62, Issue 31


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> Today's Topics:
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>   1. Re: AMP Fusion tape for sealing/waterproofing. DAVIS RF Co.
>      input (Terry)
>   2. Re: AMP Fusion tape for sealing/waterproofing. DAVIS RF Co.
>      input (Roger (K8RI))
>   3. Re: AMP Fusion tape for sealing/waterproofing. DAVIS RF Co.
>      input (TexasRF@aol.com)
>   4. Re: AMP Fusion tape for sealing/waterproofing. DAVIS RF Co.
>      input (Dino Darling)
>   5. UST MDX-589 Electrical Question (Les Kalmus)
>   6. Yaesu G-2800DXA in Rohn 25? (ac9s@mchsi.com)
>   7. Re: UST MDX-589 Electrical Question (Richard (Rick) Karlquist)
>   8. FS - DXEngineering Stainless U-Bolts (Pete Smith)
>   9. Re: UST MDX-589 Electrical Question (Alan NV8A)
>  10. Re: FS - DXEngineering Stainless U-Bolts [SOLD} (Pete Smith)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 10:13:01 -0800
> From: Terry <terry@kk6t.com>
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] AMP Fusion tape for sealing/waterproofing.
> DAVIS RF Co. input
> To: "Steve Davis -Davis RF Co." <sdavis@davisrf.com>
> Cc: Tower Talk <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Message-ID: <47B9CAAD.7060605@kk6t.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> I guess I'm a little dense.  If this tape "only sticks to itself" how
> does this create a waterproof and/or moisture proof package?  What's to
> stop moisture from migrating up under the tape at the junction with the
> substrate (coax, whatever)?
>
> 73 de Terry KK6T
>
> Steve Davis -Davis RF Co. wrote:
>> Regarding  AMP Fusion Tape, I prefer that to any other waterproofing (vs. 
>> moisture proof) tape or adhesive backed (water proof) heat shrink 
>> (usually only 2/1 and 3/1), due to no heat required, no application 
>> before soldering or joining.   You can dispense with "marine electrical 
>> goop" (which needs overlaid wrap to avoid cracking from UV ...then the 
>> overlay wrap needs to be UV resist) or "sealing in mayonnaise jars", etc, 
>> etc.
>> Descriptive info from Dan Barnes (automotive engr):  "Heat-shrink 
>> tubing.. is limited to the sizes on hand, and can adjust to a limited 
>> range of diameters. Plus, it takes heat to install, which is not always 
>> desirable. Self-fusing tape achieves the ideal at which self-adhesive 
>> electrical tape aims.
>>
>> With AMP Fusion self-fusing tape, there is no separate adhesive, so there 
>> can be no shmoo (edit: mess). The tape bonds to itself. My understanding 
>> is, polymer bonds are broken when the material is stretched. When it is 
>> wrapped around itself, it is just as easy to reform those bonds with the 
>> material in the adjacent layer of tape as within the original layer. 
>> Thus, the wrapping becomes a single, homogeneous mass. The result is 
>> almost like dipping the connection in plastic, but the process is dry, 
>> free of mess, and happens at room temperature. Removing it, if necessary, 
>> is just like removing any other insulation, since it sticks only to 
>> itself.  (edit:  Use a straight safety razor blade, or Exacto knife to 
>> cut a line down one side and peel off)."  end quote
>>
>> Contrary to some of the descrip's that suppliers indicate, this tape is 
>> more than "moisture proof".  AMP has assured me that it is "waterproof" 
>> (to no specified immersion depth) and my marine electrical  customers use 
>> it in bilges, etc., therein water (two overcoats vs. one, for low voltage 
>> DC applications, but , for liability reasons, WARNING:  I must say that a 
>> user must obtain from AMP a written spec before submersion for any 
>> application and this spec from AMP does not exist at present..... bear 
>> with me gentlemen......, if I characterize its waterproof aspect by the 
>> marine guys' immersed use, then some CB'r (ham wannabe of course) 
>> monitoring TT will seal his barrel joint from his RG58 to RG217 with this 
>> tape, then lay the cable through his father's tropical fish pond, turn on 
>> the high amp alternators and 10 kW RF, causing a fish fry as well as 
>> executing the neighbors in their swimming pools).  HI
>>
>> Easy to use:  you just peel off the backing, stretch it and apply....it 
>> is NOT sticky or messy!  Simple instructions come with it from us.   You 
>> can find this fusion tape, and 3M33+ (flame/U.V. resistant electrical 
>> tape) on our web site at  http://www.davisrf.com/coaxseal.php
>>
>>      Hope this is of some help!
>>
>> 73,  Steve Davis, K1PEK     DAVIS RF Co.
>>
>> sdavis@DavisRF.com
>>
>> 978-369-1738
>>
>> ~ Davis RF Co., Div. of Orion Wire Co.,Inc.
>> Distribution to numerous industries,  Andrew
>> Heliax; Times Microwave LMR; RFS Celwave and others.
>> Cable design engineering. RF Peripherals.
>> www.DavisRF.com
>> Tel: 1-800-328-4773 (1-800-DAVIS RF) Tech'l: 1-978-369-
>> 1738, Fax: 1-978-369-3484
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>


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