Re: [TowerTalk] weatherproof control voltage connectors

[Pete Smith <n4zr@contesting.com>]

John is totally correct.  I have one of these that has housed my 80m array 
switchbox for a number of years (5 or 6) and it has gotten quite yellow 
even in our DC-area sunlight.  I plan to use some dark green plastic spray 
paint to avoid that issue here.

73, Pete N4ZR

At 09:27 AM 12/17/2004, W0UN -- John Brosnahan wrote:

> At 07:38 AM 12/17/2004, you wrote:
> > I need to put some relays way out in a field to control some receiving 
> > antennas.  I have a pretty nice grey plastic, gasketed junction box that 
> > I can use, and will use one-hole chassis-mount coax connectors for the RF 
> > lines, but I'm a little stuck on the control lines.  These are 12 volts 
> > at very low current.  Ideally I'd like to have some sort of connectors 
> > that would mount in the side of the plastic box without compromising the 
> > weatherproof character of the box.  I know that I could use a body-mount 
> > trailer connector but they are awfully large.  Any better thoughts?
>
> Pete--
>
> This is not an answer to your connector question and I would be interested 
> in what
> you find as well.
>
> But I have used the gray plastic NEMA boxes myself and have found that 
> they tend to
> get discolored and even somewhat distorted over the years from UV 
> light.  Which
> is pretty bad in CO, but could be an issue anywhere.  When/if I use them 
> again I think
> I will put a coat of paint on the outside of the box just to provide some 
> UV protection
> to the plastic. Possibly house paint but not sure how it works on the 
> plastic.  But there
> is a new Krylon spray paint specifically for plastic.   So I might use 
> that only, or
> as a primer for some house paint.
>
> Guess I don't have THE answer on the UV protection.  But I wanted to make you
> aware that my experience was that the gray plastic deteriorated somewhat over
> the years.  On my boxes it discolored but it also warped a bit and the seal no
> longer fit right.
>
> BTW  You can NEVER seal anything outside.  You MUST add a drain hole to allow
> any condensation to drain out.
>
> Good luck -- and let me know if you learn any secrets.
>
> 73--John  W0UN

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