I will admit I was suckered into the idea of using a connector on my Ham-x
style rotator.
I've changed the rotator, let's see, want to make sure I don't lose count
here, ummmmmm, ZERO times in almost 10 years.
Next time, no connectors. Nothing is as impervious as an unbroken run of
cable. I'm also not convinced that undoing eight lugs on a terminal strip is
any harder than undoing the weatherproofing on the connector!
73, kelly
ve4xt
On 11/6/14 11:33 AM, "Don" <w7wll@arrl.net> wrote:
> Agree on the use of quality trailer connectors.
>
> Here on the beach one set for a T2X served faithfully for 11 years in a
> harsh salt air and wet environment. The salt air eventually got to it but it
> took 11 years. Did not seal where the wires enter the rear of the block and
> this is where the corrosion came from. My mistake. Will replace it with
> another trailer connector set - but this time will further cover the set
> with sleeving and seal the sleeving on the cable. My set is about 3 feet
> from the rotator up on the tower. Have a similar connector on the van and
> work trailer and they have been there since 2006, but I keep the contacts
> coated with CorrosionBlock and on these I had sealed where the wires enter
> the rubber block back with the 3M liquid seal. Keep it simple and properly
> sealed.
>
> Don W7WLL
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Patrick Greenlee
> Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2014 4:57 AM
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] TowerTalk Digest, Vol 143, Issue 10
>
> This sort of need for a M/F connector pair with good weatherproof
> characteristics has been threshed out here a lot not that long ago. Many
> folks, myself included, use the automotive trailer connectors (4 pin). They
> are not expensive and work well. I use them for my 8 conductor rotator
> control cables. By putting a male and a female on each end to be joined you
> have a goof proof polarized weatherproof connection. Some of us truly anal
> types add tape, coax seal and or whatever to further weatherproof the
> connections.
>
> These connectors are available at trailer supply places, autoparts stores,
> Walmart (RV section) and so forth.
>
> 73,
>
> Patrick NJ5G
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Larry Stowell
> Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2014 6:02 AM
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] TowerTalk Digest, Vol 143, Issue 10
>
>
> Bill.
> I had one of the first four element steppir and they originally
> used a section of PVC pipe with two and caps and a slot in the bottom
> part of the two. The original stepper motors had pigtails and you terminated
> all of these wires into two nylon terminal strips and connected the matching
> wires from the control cable these wires and terminal strip were placed
> inside
> the PVC pipe. The pipe was attached to the boom via a stainless strap clamp.
> Didn't move the ends and made sure the slot was facing down. The antenna
> was up almost 7 years(until lightning got it) they sent a little supply of
> dielectric grease and the connections were good when the antenna came down.
> I used a variation of this method at the base of a 50 foot tower for the
> rotor line.
> I had the splice new cable and I simply took a short length of PVC and one
> cap mounted it with the cap up and strapped it to the leg of the tower and
> put the splice up in the tube and that was out there for several years
> with no problems. Depending on the size of the connectors will determine
> the diameter of the PVC pipe.
>
> 73
> Larry K1ZW
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2014 12:37:41 -0800
> From: Bill Straw via TowerTalk <towertalk@contesting.com>
> To: "towertalk@contesting.com" <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Rotor cable / Steppir cable connectors
> Message-ID:
> <1415219861.25659.YahooMailNeo@web141501.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> I'm spending way too much time trying to find what I need, time to ask...
>
> I need to be able to break apart my rotor cable, so I need a
> weatherproof M/F set for 8 conductor 18 AWG.
>
> Also I need to break apart the Steppir control cable, 12 conductor + shield
> 22 AWG.
>
> These disconnects are at the top of the tower so a weatherproof M/F set
> is very important.
>
> 73, Bill KO7SS
>
>
>
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