Re: [TowerTalk] Trailer Hitch Electrical Connectors for Rotator Cable

[Patrick Greenlee <patrick_g@windstream.net>]

Maybe I should have issued a warning re the silicone with vinegar smell 
(acetic acid) as it is corrosive.  I guess I thought we all knew that.   
Way back when I repaired an aquarium with the RTV silicone rubber that 
put out acetic acid while curing.  I was ignorant and killed some fish.  
I learned to put some baby guppies in like a canary in a coal mine to 
test for environmental quality/suitability.  Sometimes I lost 2-3 
batches of guppies but eventually when the guppies made it for an 
extended period it was time for the other fish.
There are many more types of silicone caulk and potting formulas 
available from technical sources than the average person sees at the big 
box stores. For connector sealing just read the info or smell it.  If it 
smells like vinegar do not use it on electrical connections or to 
weatherproof connectors.
Today's trivia quiz:  What does RTV stand for?

Hint: It is not a brand or an ingredient.

Scroll down for answer...






















RTV is Room Temperature Vulcanizing.

Before RTV products were available Vulcanizing (as the name implies) 
involved high temps. (Vulcan in this instance is not the home world of 
Mr. (not doctor) Spock but instead is the Roman mythological god of fire 
from whom terms such as volcano and vulcanologist were derived.
73,

Patrick NJ5G


.
On 8/21/2014 10:25 AM, Roger (K8RI) on TT wrote:
> On 8/21/2014 11:02 AM, Patrick Greenlee wrote:
>
> Be careful with Silicone calk. For sealed connectors, make sure it is 
> made for that purpose and not the corrosive type.  If it smells like 
> Acetic Acid, it is corrosive.  We purchased a bunch of circuits at 
> "the plant" that wetre potted in Silicone calk.  It ate the copper off 
> the boards.
> 73
>
> Roger (K8RI)
>
>
> > You may note the many comments regarding successful use of the 4 pin 
> > trailer connectors in pairs for 8 conductor cables. I noticed  NO 
> > negative comments regarding their actual use.   I personally solder 
> > rather than crimp them onto my cables and cover with shrink with some 
> > silicone caulk injected but that is just my personal quirk. Butt 
> > splice with the waterproof splices as their plastic insulation is 
> > "shrink" and and there is hot melt sealant inside that guarantees a 
> > water proof seal.  These are used hundreds of feet underwater and 
> > work fine and last a long time. if you know how to get a good crimp 
> > you are ready for weather.
> > I wouldn't abandon this nifty solution (molded 4 pin trailer 
> > connectors) because of having to make 8 splices.
> > Anyway, good luck whatever you choose to do.
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > Patrick NJ5G
> >
> >
> >
> > On 8/20/2014 9:16 PM, W3YY wrote:
> > > Thanks to all those who offered suggestions.
> > >
> > > In my case, I want connectors that don't have wires already 
> > > attached.  I
> > > don't want to have to butt splice my existing rotator cable wires to 
> > > wires
> > > coming from the connector, I want to connect my rotator cable wires 
> > > directly
> > > to the connector.  Many of the commercial trailer hitch connectors have
> > > pigtails.  Those that don't, don't seem to make clear how one does 
> > > attach
> > > the wires, e.g., crimp, solder, pressure fit, etc.  I found trying to
> > > evaluate trailer hitch connectors on the Internet to be problematic.
> > >
> > > KF7P suggested making a connector using Anderson Power Pole 
> > > connectors.  I
> > > think that's definitely worth a try.  I have a large stock of 
> > > Anderson Power
> > > Pole connectors with 15  to 45 amp capacity and the associated crimping
> > > tool.  The basic Anderson Power Pole connector is not weatherproof, 
> > > but I
> > > think with a proper tape job it can be made weather resistant. Best 
> > > of all,
> > > if it fails, it's a snap to cut off the old one, strip and recrimp new
> > > contacts. And reinstall.  Easily done, even up on the tower without 
> > > the need
> > > of a butane soldering gun.
> > >
> > > Will let the group know in a year or two how well this works.
> > >
> > > Again, thanks to all for helping me make a decision about this.
> > >
> > > 73, Bob - W3YY
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf 
> > > Of W3YY
> > > Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2014 11:27 PM
> > > To: towertalk@contesting.com
> > > Subject: [TowerTalk] Trailer Hitch Electrical Connectors for Rotator 
> > > Cable
> > > Does anyone have any recommendations for trailer hitch electrical 
> > > connectors
> > > that work well as rotator control cable connectors?  I would like to 
> > > have at
> > > least 5 conductors in the connector, if possible.
> > >
> > >
> > > 73, Bob - W3YY
> > >
> > >
> > >
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