My solution for the bulkhead feed-through and ground window challenge for my
basement shack is to remove one pane of a two-pane basement window and
replace it with a Lexan / plastic replacement panel which has been fitted
inside and outside with aluminum plates bolted together and predrilled for
bulkhead connectors, and control cable feed- thru as a SPG window. Outside a
number 4 copper to ground is connected by a ground lug via a thru bolt and
ground lug to number 4 copper inside to a 8 foot ground rod in a perimeter
drain sump well which is bonded to the MDP ground. Inside on the panel Array
Solutions AS-300 Series ICE protectors provide Static Bleed and Gas
Discharge protection for the radios connected to the antennas. An AS-16SP
is also mounted inside via a thru - bolt protecting the K9AY Loop and rotor
controllers.
I have LDF-4 and Bury-Flex cables terminated with UHF connectors on the
outside with 12 and 15 foot 9913 and Bury-Flex cables running from the
window to a Ten-Tec Model 253 Automatic Antenna Coupler. With inside shack
temperatures of 70 plus degrees at 30 percent humidity I have NOT seen cable
condensation problems, even when the outside temperatures are well below
zero.
73 & DX,
Gary - AB9M
-----Original Message-----
From: Hans Hammarquist via TowerTalk
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2014 6:41 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Fwd: Fwd: Fwd: Bulkhead feed-through.
Jim, you give me a simple role to follow:" Don't fix it until it's broken."
I give it to next year to see if I get any problem. I will add insulation to
the outside of the plate, Styrofoam with holes for the existing cables.
BTW The plate is about 6"x12" and can hold (predrilled with very small
holes) about 15 feedthroughs.
Hans - N2JFS
-----Original Message-----
From: James Chaggaris <jimc@pwrone.com>
To: towertalk <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Fri, Nov 21, 2014 10:52 am
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Fwd: Fwd: Bulkhead feed-through.
At my old QTH, I used bulkhead connectors through a piece of 1/2² wood cut
to the size of my window well window. From there I used 2 sheets of
aluminum on either side of the wood and attached them together with SS
bolts. I grounded the whole thing using 2² copper strap to a couple of
ground rods outside. I used this feed-through for 6yrs and never had any
condensation. (I also sealed around the wood/aluminum panel with caulk).
73,
Jim N9WW
James Chaggaris
President
PowerOne Corp./PowerOne Environmental
2325 Dean St. Suite 200
St. Charles, IL 60175
Phn: 630.443.6500
Cell: 630.669.2241
Fax: 630.44366505
Website: www.pwrone.com <http://www.pwrone.com/>
On 11/21/14, 9:40 AM, "Hans Hammarquist via TowerTalk"
<towertalk@contesting.com> wrote:
No Ron, it's worse. I have a square opening in the wall of my shack that
is covered with a metal plate. There are holes in the plate that hold the
bulkhead feed-troughs.
My idea was to have easy access to the various feeders that goes up the
tower. I plug in the coax from the trx whatever antenna I need for the
moment. All the connectors are open to the air in the shack. I thought it
was an excellent idea but realize now that it might not have been that
excellent after all.
As the plate has no insulation it will get cold in the winter and I will
have condensation on it AND the connectors. If (I am sure it will) the
condensation goes through the connectors I will also have water on the
outside with following corrosion. :( As the connectors are sealed, the
water will have no way to get out.
Maybe I should remove the seals on the outside to reduce the risk of
corrosion.
Hans - N2JFS
-----Original Message-----
From: Ron W8RJL <youngron@verizon.net>
To: Tower and HF antenna construction topics. <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Thu, Nov 20, 2014 11:41 pm
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Fwd: Bulkhead feed-through.
Hans apparently has a metal plate against the outside of his house/shack
with feed thru connectors (they come in lengths to go thru the wall) and
apparently thinks humidity can get thru the feed thru to the connector
outside screwed onto the outside end of the feed thru. If I have
understood
his set up, I don't see where any moist air from inside the house/shack
can
get to the PL-259 outside because there will be a coax screwed onto the
inside end of the feed thru.
My comment is that most/many put the bulkhead plate a few inches away
from
the outside wall (enough room to be able to screw on a PL-259) and just
run
coax and a wide piece of braid thru the wall. Yes, the bulkhead it tied
to
or part of the ground rod so the bulkhead plate or box (rain protection
for
lightning arrestors etc) is in fact the SPG (single point ground).
I don't think Hans has a problem especially if coax connectors are sealed
with a good quality tape and/or lined heat shrink.
Ron W8RJL
----- Original Message -----
From: <n8de@thepoint.net>
To: "Hans Hammarquist" <hanslg@aol.com>; "Hans Hammarquist via TowerTalk"
<towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2014 6:18 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Fwd: Bulkhead feed-through.
I don't understand Ron's post at all.
My bulkhead is my SPG and is mounted in a vent about 1 foot from the
ground rod outside the house.
In reference to the original question:
IF the bulkhead connectors are secure and there is a DRIP LOOP on the
INSIDE of them, there should be NO problem with water inside the
coax/bulkhead connector.
73
Don
N8DE
Quoting Hans Hammarquist via TowerTalk <towertalk@contesting.com>:
Well, mine isn't. :(
-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Young <youngron@verizon.net>
To: Hans Hammarquist <hanslg@aol.com>
Sent: Thu, Nov 20, 2014 5:42 pm
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Bulkhead feed-through.
Usually the bulkhead is on stand-offs so the plate is off the
outside
wall. Only
coax goes thru the wall. There should be no vapor going thru the coax
so
no
problem.
Ron W8RJL
Sent from my iPhone
On Nov 20, 2014, at 5:34 PM, Hans Hammarquist via TowerTalk
<towertalk@contesting.com> wrote:
I have a grounded, metal plate that carries all my bulkhead
connectors
from
the outside to the inside. No big deal except: I have wrapped the
outside of the
connectors with water tight tape.
Consider that the temperature is lower outside than inside (Vermont)
I
am
afraid that I will have water buildup on the connectors on the
outside
as vapor
easily can get through from the inside.
Comments! Have anyone have had a problem with this before? Do I have
to
get
guarantied water tight bulk, feed-through connectors?
73 de,
Hans
N2JFS
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