Eugene, I think your approach to making connection with the cable is
just fine.
I wouldn't think you would have to get to exotic with the pads and all.
I usually
do is just coat the connection over the coax with roofing cement which
makes it
good seal and is waterproof.
Regards
Denis VE6AQ
EUGENE SMAR wrote:
> TT:
>
> While shopping at the electrical supplier for hardware to mount the
> Hoffman enclosure to my tower base, I found the above material that I'm
> considering using on my coax shield ground connections at the tower. The
> material is sticky pads of black insulating material with a vinyl backing,
> and they measure 3.25 X 4.5 X 0.125 inches. The box of ten cost me $18.70
> (which I didn't realize until I looked it up for this post. Sheesh!)
>
> What I'm thinking is cutting away about an inch and a half of jacket
> from the coax where I want to apply the ground connection. I'll fold a
> piece of copper flashing around the coax braid so a flag of copper about an
> inch wide is left on one side of the coax. I'll fix the flashing in place
> by bolting a two-hole brass terminal through two pairs of aligned,
> pre-drilled holes in the flashing flag. The terminal will keep the
> flashing in place and enable me to connect a #6 ground wire to it (and the
> shield) and to the tower.
>
> I'll next fold a mastic pad over the connection, molding it to the
> contours of the terminal and bolts. Then I'll apply tape and Liquid Tape as
> instructed elsewhere and elsewhen in the TT archives. The advantage of the
> pads over tape is it might be easier to cover the irregularly-shaped
> connection with the pads than with tape.
>
> I'll have to experiment with the flashing size, and probably pre-bend
> the pieces around a dowel before I take them up the Tower with me. Might
> use alcohol wipes on the flashing's interior surface before I attach it to
> the braid. Might also need only half a pad per connection. I think I'll
> also build up a test piece of coax with the ground connection in place and
> hang it somewhere on the tower for a year, just to see how clean it is after
> I open it up. I'll seal the ends of the test piece, of course.
>
> Certainly is cheaper than commercial ground connectors. Flame shields
> in place - fire away.
>
> 73 de
> Gene Smar AD3F
>
> List Sponsored by AN Wireless: AN Wireless handles Rohn tower systems,
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>
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List Sponsored by AN Wireless: AN Wireless handles Rohn tower systems,
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supporting towers up to 100 feet for under $1500!! http://www.anwireless.com
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