[TowerTalk] Taping trap caps - good or bad practice?

[Benson,M Stokley]

Hello TT'ers,
I was very interested in Tony's (N2TK) experience using ScotchCote and Scotch 33 tape to seal the black plastic trap caps on an A3S.  I just finished refurbing my trusty 15 year old A4S and did the same thing Tony did minus the ScotchCote...applying Scotch 33 tape over the trap caps to take the brunt of the UV.  The tape overlaps onto the aluminum trap about 1/2 inch.  I took apart all of the traps, checked for corrosion and replaced all the screws with SS.  Only one trap had major insect infestation...what a mess!  I cleaned all the electrical joints to bright metal and applied a thin coat of NOALOX.  I haven't got the antenna back up so I don't have any experience.  Is taping the trap caps good or bad practice?  The K7LXC directive says don't do what you're not told to do but I really don't want to expose the trap caps to UV and have them split.  

PS - pls no "trap-less" antenna flames...the antenna (at 50 feet) has been a true companion with 345 countries mixed and 340 each on CW and phone all with 100 watts (don't own an amp)...you might say I'm a "light tackle" DX'er and still having fun after 40 years...

73 / Stokley, W3SB

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