Cushcraft packs little tubes of silicone grease with their coax booties.
It's never been clear to me exactly where it should be applied. Seems to me
that if applied to the threads it would interfere with proper metal-to-metal
electrical contract. I've found another use for it though -- I apply it to
the coax jacket before screwing on the connector. Sure makes it easier to do
that part.
73, Dick WC1M
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Roger D. Johnson [mailto:n1rj@pivot.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2003 3:57 PM
> To: TowerTalk@contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Sealing of connectors
>
>
> Here's the method we used in the Navy/Coast Guard to
> weatherproof shipboard connectors. I don't think you can find
> a worse environment than salt spray driven by gale force winds!
>
> First, wrap the connector with the self vulcanizing tape.
> This tape is stretchy and conforms to the connector avoiding
> air pockets. It will stick to itself but only lightly to the
> connector. As this tape degrades under ultraviolet, it must
> be covered with a wrap of vinyl tape. Finally, the whole
> thing is covered with some type of coating. We used
> Scotchcoat but others might be more available. This final
> coating seals up any gaps in the vinyl tape and keeps the end
> from coming unstuck.
>
> Also, if done properly, a dab of silicone grease in the
> connector prior to mating adds extra insurance. The best
> thing to use is the little packets with a nozzle such as
> comes with Andrew connectors. If you try to use a regular
> tube of grease, it will usually get on the outside of the
> connector and the tape will not stick!
>
> Believe me, this method has stood up to everything the
> North Atlantic could throw at it. And when it comes time to
> test the antenna, the whole thing peels off cleanly after
> being slit with a knife.
>
> 73, Roger
>
>
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