In a message dated 11/20/2006 4:20:24 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
towertalk-request@contesting.com writes:
> I'm getting ready to install the rotor on my tower, but wanted to
protect the contacts from corrosion and oxidation. I'm using an older
style Ham-IV rotor, which has the screw contacts, not the plug. I've
still got to clean up the housing, which shows some oxidation, but that
should be pretty easily done. The screws are rusted, and could probably
stand to be replaced. The rotor works just fine on the bench, and will
probably work just as well on the tower (fortunately it's at the base of
this tower and not the top), but I want to ensure it's continued
operation. I don't really want to have to work on the rotor each and
every season. The previous owner used a tuna can duct-taped to the
bottom of the rotor, but that looked sort of "rigged" to me, and I'd
like to avoid that, especially considering the extent of the engineering
that I've done on this installation. Short of rebuilding the rotor
completely and replacing the screw terminal strip with the plug, does
anyone have a suggestion on how best to protect the screw contacts on
the bottom of the rotor?
The current rotators have a pigtail on them which is a definite
improvement.
Do not put Coaxseal on the terminal strip or RTV or anything like that
if you want to reuse them. It's a one-time application and it'll be pretty
tough to reuse it. OTOH if you attach a foot-long wire to the TS and coat it
with the aforementioned materials, you can then make your own pigtail with a
couple of 4-conductor trailer plugs. Since you don't have to get to the TS
again, it's a long-term option.
Other than that or having one of the rotator repair guys putting
one in for you, I'd just leave it in the open. It may need to be replaced in
the future but you'll need to refurb at some point anyway.
Cheers,
Steve K7LXC
TOWER TECH -
Professional tower services for hams
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