this can all be avoided by purchasing a small butane solder pencil,
all of about $70-80, and they are much better than an electric gun or
pencil.
besides, a 200' climb with anything besides myself is a "drag"!
----------
> From: Barry Kutner <w2up@itw.com>
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] solder jobs up the tower
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Date: Wednesday, April 15, 1998 9:23 PM
>
> On 15 Apr 98, Dick Green <dick.green@valley.net> wrote:
>
>
> > My friend unplugs the coax at the antenna, attaches (via a homemade
> > SO239-to-AC-outlet-box adapter) a temperature-regulated soldering
station
> > with a big tip, returns to the shack and attaches the other end of the
coax
> > to a 110VAC outlet (via a homemade two-prong-plug-to-SO239 adapter),
returns
> > to the antenna, solders away, turns off the iron, returns to the shack,
> > unplugs the coax from the AC, returns to the antenna, disconnects the
> > soldering iron, and reattaches the coax. Only three trips up and down
the
> > tower! This can be reduced to one trip by utilizing a friend in the
shack
> > and a pair of handy-talkies, but you really have to trust that your
friend
> > will do exactly what you tell him/her (it could be too tempting for a
> > spouse, especially if you carry life insurance ;-)
> >
> > I did this once in desperation during a contest (raining, in the dark)
when
> > critters chewed through the coax where it attached to my lone
ground-mounted
> > vertical 250 feet from the house. You have to be EXTREMELY careful in
> > fabricating your adapters not to connect the hot side of the AC to the
> > ground portion of the SO239 connectors (use a non-reversible
two-pronged AC
> > plug), and, just in case, NEVER TOUCH THE CONNECTORS WHEN THE SETUP IS
> > PLUGGED IN. ALSO NOTE THAT THERE IS NO GROUND SAFETY WIRE IN THIS
SETUP.
> >
> > I DON'T RECOMMEND THAT ANYONE TRY THIS BECAUSE IT IS CLEARLY NOT SAFE
AND
> > NOT COMPLIANT WITH ANY CODE STANDARDS AND I DON'T WANT TO GET SUED. I'M
> > DISCLAIMING ALL RESPONSIBILITY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE STUPID ENOUGH TO TRY
THIS.
> >
> > I just thought you might like to know how it has been done by foolish
> > people.
> >
> > 73, Dick, WC1M
> Yes, that is nuts!
>
> I've never had the need to solder up there, but after foolishly
> thinking a battery powered drill could drill a 1/4 inch hole thru a
> 1/4 wall, hi carbon steel mast, I bought 2 - 100 ft extension cords
> (the orange, 3 cond ones made for outdoors) and brought it up the
> tower with me, tied to my belt. Should work for a heavy duty
> soldering gun too, on a non-windy day.
> GL/Barry
>
> --
> Barry Kutner, W2UP Internet: w2up@itw.com
> Newtown, PA FRC alternate: barry@w2up.wells.com
>
> --
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