I respectfully disagree.
> I have found that a good quality, thick walled heat shrink tubing will
help
> keep the joints sealed.
Sealing the joints could trap moisture if moisture migrates under the
shrink from the inside of the tubing.
>I use "No-Ox" and liberally apply it before
> shrinking the tube.
The joint needs to be coated with enough goo to evenly cover the joint to
prevent water ingress into the joint, nothing extra.
>This also works very well on N connectors attaching to
> antennas from feedlines and clear silicone sealant.
Clear silicone sealant contains acetic acid, and will ruin connectors and
connections. One large CATV system applied it to connectors, and within a
few years was on a massive connector replacement program. Electrical
connections don't like acid core solder, and they don't like acid based
sealers.
I use a very thin coating of GE Dielectric silicone on the threads of the
connector, and NOTHING in the middle. I make a hood or boot out of shrink
or rubber (an old bicycle tube works) and tape the one end leaving the
bottom side open. That forms a cover that lets moisture out and lets the
connector breathe (to prevent condensation) but shields the cable from
rain.
I avoid N connectors, because they have a tendency to fail at power levels
over one kilowatt. Just last week I lost my 160 meter dipoles, turns out
the ONLY N connector in the entire run failed.
73 Tom
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