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Re: [TowerTalk] Waterproofing Yaesu control connection

To: "Michael Fox \(K5MEF\)" <k5mef@mefox.org>, <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Waterproofing Yaesu control connection
From: "Chuck Lewis" <clewis@knology.net>
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:38:51 -0500
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
>
> I was planning to:
>
> 1)  Put a little bit of  "stuf" or other dielectric filler on the pins
> before assembling
>
> 2)  Put some anti-seize lubricant on the outer screw ring to ease
> disassembly

Several (5 or 6) years go, I had an issue with erratic readings that would 
go crazy when commanding rotation, then revert to a strange angle at rest. 
After confirming flaky resistance readings on the ground, I climbed to the 
rotator connector, removed the boot and the connector, removed the backshell 
and found moist insect parts, and web and eggsac material filling the void 
in and around the wires and pins. A good cleaning of the solder pins and 
wires followed by plain ordinary Vaseline (petroleum jelly) to overfill the 
backshell before reassembly has resulted in 100% solid performance ever 
since. I did replace the boot, but removed the "squeeze-out", then taped 
around it all the way back to the cable sheath.

This, of course, is only one anecdotal experience, and not statistically 
valid; and there will be those who will advocate using nothing but proper 
dielectric potting gel for electronic components, but I took the chance with 
Vaseline, it worked, and I don't expect to have to repeat the process. Your 
mileage may vary.

Chuck, N4NM
 

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