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[TowerTalk] Ox-gard

To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Ox-gard
From: w8ji.tom@MCIONE.com (w8ji.tom)
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1998 10:17:37 -0500
I respectfully disagree.

> I have found that a good quality, thick walled heat shrink tubing will
help
> keep the joints sealed.

Sealing the joints could trap moisture if moisture migrates under the
shrink from the inside of the tubing.   

>I use "No-Ox" and liberally apply it before
> shrinking the tube.  

The joint needs to be coated with enough goo to evenly cover the joint to
prevent water ingress into the joint, nothing extra. 

>This also works very well on N connectors attaching to
> antennas from feedlines and clear silicone sealant.

Clear silicone sealant contains acetic acid, and will ruin connectors and
connections. One large CATV system applied it to connectors, and within a
few years was on a massive connector replacement program. Electrical
connections don't like acid core solder, and they don't like acid based
sealers.

I use a very thin coating of GE Dielectric silicone on the threads of the
connector, and NOTHING in the middle. I make a hood or boot out of shrink
or rubber (an old bicycle tube works) and tape the one end leaving the
bottom side open. That forms a cover that lets moisture out and lets the
connector breathe (to prevent condensation) but shields the cable from
rain. 

I avoid N connectors, because they have a tendency to fail at power levels
over one kilowatt. Just last week I lost my 160 meter dipoles, turns out
the ONLY N connector in the entire run failed. 

73 Tom 


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