Hey guys, there are water detection solutions (well paste .) You can buy
stuff (I used a paste from a tube like tooth paste) that detects water and
changes from grey to bright red if contacted by water. Put a little of that
on before covering a connector with shrink. Later (maybe years) when you
open it up you will have definite proof of water ingress or not. Learn from
that and go on, a more enlightened ham.
Patrick AF5CK
-----Original Message-----
From: K8RI
Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2013 10:54 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Tex Com LMR-600 Connectors
On 8/8/2013 9:11 PM, Steve Maki wrote:
On 8/8/2013 9:06 PM, K8RI wrote:
Everyone has their foibles I guess. But at least now you've had one
answer to your question.
True, but I disagree that a clean connector means no leak. Unless the
water is dirty, or acetic, it takes some time before it makes a
permanent or visible mark.
I did say "years old weatherproofing".
We are looking at two different philosophies.
The problem with this approach is it tells you "after the fact" and if
the seal does not bond to the connector, just a slight difference in
winding can cause a tiny wrinkle that will work with capillary action.
Unless the cable fails, you don't know if it was leaking until you take
the covering off the connector. I'll grant that with just a little
practice a failure should be rare. However, I'd guess that there are
many who read this list that probably use fewer connectors in a lifetime
than you or I in a year. With that many connectors, weather proofing is
a high priority for both of us.
With the hot melt glue bonding the heat shrink to the connector plus
the very tight fit, I've never seen one leak.plus it adds considerable
mechanical strength to the connection.
We aren't going to change each others minds, but I just have more faith
in a bonded waterproofing even if the connectors do look like crap after
removing the weather proofing <:-))
73
Roger (K8RI)
I've uncovered enough connectors to know that water ingress will either
cause visible effects, and/or the connector will still be *wet*.
By the time the moisture has evaporated or dissipated is some fashion,
there WILL be telltale signs left behind. Bank on it.
-Steve K8LX
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