Folks,
Hopefully I replied to everyone who sent
me such great ideas about waterproofing
the Tupperware box. Many expressed
concerns about UV damage to the plastic
over time and many suggested drain holes
that were covered in different ways to
protect from insects getting in.
I've got an old stainless steel sieve that
has a tear around the top. This is a
perfect time to cut that into a patch that
I will glue onto 1/2" holes in each corner
to allow for ventilation and keep the bugs
out. I've got some pieces of 3M pad that
I'm going to use to plug the holes where
the coax enters and leaves the box.
Between those holes at the bottom and the
air the can get past the 3M pad material,
condensation should not occur and bugs
should be kept at bay.
It's a little different topic but the one
thing I can offer to the group on this has
to do with the PVC covers that I have over
the amplifiers at the base of each one of
the antennas. I want to keep mice out of
there because I know that they'll just
chew right into the wiring so a good hint
to keep mice out of anything you want to
protect is to use bounce sheets, the
fabric softener stuff. Mice hate the smell
of that and some friends with antique
vehicles put bounce strips under the seats
of their vehicles and feel safe that there
are no mouse nests to be found along the
way. So I stuffed a sheet up inside of
each one of those PVC containers. Don't
think it repels bugs though.
Thank you all for the help I appreciate
it.
73,
Gary
KA1J
> Rather than invent a poorly designed
> wheel, maybe someone here has already
> successfully worked out a better solution
> to waterproofing.
>
> I am using a Sterilite 25" x 18" x 8"
> container with secure snap on fasteners on
> each side of the lid to house the outdoor
> electronics for the 8 circle array. The
> lid fits wonderfully and there is a 1" rim
> that comes down from the lid to secure the
> contents from exposure to rain.
>
> I have drilled the holes for each coax (9
> in all) and cut a slot for the control
> wire. I'm planning on wrapping each coax &
> the control cable with plastic from a
> plastic bag to make the coax snug to the
> hole and then gorilla taping that to the
> side of the container on each side.
>
> Any ideas to improve this?
>
> Another option I've thought of to seal the
> openings is to use expansion foam to seal
> the holes. My concern is that is that I've
> never used this foam before and don't know
> how easy it is to remove it from the coax
> should I ever need to. Seems like it would
> make a great seal.
>
> Any caveats using the foam instead of the
> plastic bag & gorilla tape?
>
> Another consideration is drainage; the
> container will be placed on a large
> boulder to keep it above rising salt
> water, should there be any from a
> storm/hurricane.
>
> I don't want to make access holes for
> insects but I need to keep it dry inside.
> Once the holes are sealed there isn't much
> access for water getting in. Murphy being
> a McGuiver, should I drill a couple small
> holes in the bottom for drainage or should
> I leave it as is and not provide for
> drainage?
>
> 73,
>
> Gary
> KA1J
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