Yes, apparently this process works. Last summer I watched the cable
TV technician re-run lines (squirrels had chewed the old ones) from the
main line to my house to a junction box and then to two different outlets.
This required a number of junctions and connectors. He filled each
connection with silicone grease before screwing the connectors
together -- it squeezed out when they were tightened. He said that it
waterproofed the connections, and the cable company had been doing it
that way for a long time. He also used nothing else over the connection,
i.e. no butyl rubber or tape. If this wasn't effective, the cable company
wouldn't be doing it, since it would cost them too much to go back and fix
the literally thousands of connections that would be ruined by water
infusion (probably on a daily basis).
Jim W4LC
>>> Chuck Dietz (KE5FI) <ke5fi@wt.net> 03/24/97 12:38am >>>
dick@pobox.com wrote:
> > 23 MAR - 2130 CST
> > Hello Roger...
> > Since 1989, I have been potting all of my coaxial connectors with a
> non-conductive silicone grease before I put them together.
> > It is a messy process, but well worth the effort. Use enough to
have it
> squeeze out of the joint as it is assembled. That way there will be no
> voids to fill with water if your tape wrap later fails. Once the
> connector is mated, I use naptha-soaked paper towels (does not leave
any
> oily residue and does not attack the vinyl cable sheath) to thoroughly
> remove the excess. Then I use Scotch 33+ wrapped three layers
deep in the
> manner described by Steve.
> > I opened a couple of these joints in 1994 and 1995 -- they looked
brand
> new inside with no trace of moisture, dirt, or corrosion.
> > There are apparently no electrical consequences using this method -
no
> weird SWR effects or anything.
Wow, what a great process! Thanks for sharing this with us, I have had
a lot of trouble in past installations with water incursion into coax joints.
Chuck, KE5FI
--
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
Sponsored by: Akorn Access, Inc. & N4VJ / K4AAA
--
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
Sponsored by: Akorn Access, Inc. & N4VJ / K4AAA
|