On 5/20/2013 5:35 PM, Bill Parry wrote:
I have been following along with this line and have really been interested
in the different ways that folks have been "proofing" their connections. I
thought that the way that I had been doing it was the most common but I
guess not. The tower guys that first put up my antennas had used coax seal.
After my antennas were fried by lightning, I had the devil getting that
stuff off and it does flow in the heat here. After reading towertalk
(several years ago) I settled on a different way of sealing. I cover the
coax connector with Super #88 followed by a coat of liquid electric tape,
followed by another coat of #88.
After about 5 years I had another strike and took down the antennas. I
replaced all the coax runs and stubs. Every connection was sparkling clean
like new. It was easy to get the stuff off too. I put liquid tape on to keep
the connection waterproof and solid. You can't leave that stuff on the
outside because it only lasts for about 15 minutes. I use the second coat of
tape to protect the liquid tape.
I used Liquid electrical tape on a number of connections and one
particularly vulnerable one. It's the feed for my 160 half sloper.
I made an L bracket out of Aluminum and bored it out yo fit an SO-239
chassis connector. The bracket is held to a tower leg with two SS hose
clamps. http://www.rogerhalstead.com/ham_files/tower47.htm shows it in
detail temporarily mounted down low to pose for photos.
The SO-239 is mounted, threads down and the end of the half sloper comes
from a strain insulator to be soldered into the chassis side of the
connector. It's been up for quite a few years and is still good.
I've not had any problems with the red liquid coming off or leaking so
far and I think it's been up over 6 years. I also use it on Yagi hardware.
Apparently YMMV
73
Roger (K8RI)
For beginners just using electrical tape, always use #33 or #88 (available
at Home Depot), and be careful when you cut/tape it down that you don't
"pull on it" or it will pull itself back loose and "flutter in the breeze."
I know this from personal experience!
Bill W5VX
-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of
Richard Thorne
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2013 3:26 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Coax Seal yea or nay?
I like using this stuff
http://www.dxengineering.com/search/part-type/tape/product-line/dx-engineeri
ng-3m-temflex-2155-rubber-splicing-tape?autoview=SKU
I just dismantled a vertical yesterday which had the rubber used as the
first layer and a layer of 3M Scotch Super 33 to protect it. The connection
was well protected and was easy to remove by carefully using an xacto blade.
The rubber adheres to the surface of the coax and
pl-259 very well, but when removed, does not leave a mess.
Rich - N5ZC
On 5/20/2013 12:51 PM, K7LXC@aol.com wrote:
Is 3M Scotchcote no longer in favor? After a full wrap of tape, a
coating of this messy stuff has kept connectors dry and shinny for years.
Yes, lots of folks use it. It was designed for burial and really
doesn't have much in the way of weather or UV resistance. After a
couple of years, the ScotchKote flakes off too. Some cell installers
I've seen use a clear Krylon spray paint. Probably does a little better.
Cheers,
Steve K7LXC
TOWER TECH
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