I have an insulated plastic tote in the back yard, at the base of my inverted-L
antenna. Inside is an autotuner, a choke, and a very large relay. Initially, my
heating element was an automotive tail light bulb, which got too hot (LDG
tuners stop working below about 10 F). My present heating element is a 25-W
resistor (potted inside a ridged metal case with a large, flat mounting
flange). The resistor is bolted to a 4x5 inch piece of copper PCB. By adjusting
the input voltage from the shack, the resistor dissipates 5-8 W (19V DC input),
which keeps the box warm (or warm enough). These resistors cost about $2 each
and seem to be infinitely reliable.
Best of luck,
Kirk, NT0ZRochester, MN
My book, "Stealth Amateur Radio," is now available from www.stealthamateur.com
and on the Amazon Kindle (soon)
On Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 05:32:42 PM CST, RONDALL SPENCER
<n4vos@bellsouth.net> wrote:
They make a silicone pad heaters as well I use them under battetys in cold
weather. All sizes.
Sent from my iPhone
> On Mar 8, 2025, at 5:54 PM, Jim W7RY <jimw7ry@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Here you go!
>
> Normally they are $130.00 +
>
> https://www.ebay.com/itm/376010633667?_skw=SCB-50+120V+50W+Screw+Base+Heater&itmmeta=01JNVZC4TZQANMAJB4MFSBRZJQ&hash=item578bfaf1c3:g:-oMAAOSw77Nncw2S&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAABAFkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1el3RD7Sa7UJU7n2PhXB8EKyAif7WMChhiImXG%2F0zvh%2BzKbC7QT1UOZoLpZc2Hbd614GDeJ8rVpp5g6m0bx%2FVTTBA3HopeQq9j%2BdA1rpzq26YOrHQqqprNeX7nouT%2BQNzBEohjNoMbxwa2f%2FEGMDDY74CVupl%2BkqHzWBjt1Sp%2Fv4aNhv0IuMdrMGascMfuvIAM5LjnNxIot%2FWUC0oUZCnHwJWhmmF7Jf1xSj2cVrTks3DLv1pBKX%2FdIlxyHCY9VIkfQrYqrw1TUpRkHwsYZmyLhQiUX%2BBBZMcIBg7Vjet5iQudj%2BPXZhas%2FSCvHijg2%2F4g%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-rNsP-uZQ
>
>
> Jim W7RY
>
>
>> On 3/8/2025 3:49 PM, Martin A. Flynn wrote:
>> Another option:
>>
>> https://www.chromalox.com/en/products-and-technologies/component-technologies/cartridge-and-insertion-heaters/specialty-cartridge-heaters/edison-base-cartridge-heaters
>>
>> Ratings from 50 to 200W
>>
>> 73 Martin
>>
>> W2RWJ
>>
>>> On 3/8/2025 4:00 PM, W7TMT - Patrick wrote:
>>> In some industries it is called "heat trace cable". Several sources
>>> including this one have it available in shorter lengths and/or by the foot
>>> by using appropriate terminals. It is also available in a 12/24V DC
>>> configurations.
>>>
>>> https://www.heatingelementsplus.com/heat-trace-cable.html
>>>
>>> GL
>>> Patrick, W7TMT
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces@contesting.com> On Behalf Of Patrick
>>> Barkey
>>> Sent: Saturday, March 8, 2025 12:32
>>> To: towertalk@contesting.com
>>> Subject: [TowerTalk] Heat tape for relays
>>>
>>> I have a lot of relays in this station, and many are outdoors (in
>>> enclosures). Over the last few years it has become apparent that the
>>> occasional super cold nights are making some of them flakey. They stick --
>>> if I go out with a hairdryer I can free them up.
>>>
>>> These are enclosed relays.
>>>
>>> I am wondering if anyone has ever tried using heat tape for this kind of
>>> application? I could just flip it on when I needed it. Most heat tape I
>>> see is for water pipes and is 6 feet long or so. I could try to use this,
>>> but what I really need is something smaller and possibly flatter.
>>>
>>> Any ideas? Thanks.
>>>
>>> - Pat
>>> N9RV
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
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