[TowerTalk] Equipment Corrosion

[Red]

As has been mentioned, the key to preventing condensation is to keep the 
equipment internal temperature slightly above the dew point.  If you 
keep it above the ambient temperature, you know it is above the dew point.

The major concern is during periods when the ambient temperature is 
rising.  That is the time the internal equipment temperature is likely 
to be less than ambient temperature.

In most cases, a modest power dissipation inside the equipment is 
sufficient  to achieve this.  This approach requires less power than any 
attempt to heat or dehumidify the ambient.  Just leaving the equipment 
turned on is enough in many cases, and, if there are no moving parts or 
vacuum tubes, does not increase the equipment failure rate.

If some are interested in details, I will offer more.

73 de WOØW

hdmc38 at bellsouth.net wrote:

>Hello Dan
>
>        You must have power to run those radios.Take some and run a small A/C unit.100 square feet is not alot of space to cool.The A/C will cool & dehumidify .
>
>                    73 Joe K4XZ
>  
>
>>From: "Dan Levin" <djl at andlev.com>
>>Date: 2004/08/26 Thu AM 12:39:47 EDT
>>To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
>>Subject: [TowerTalk] Equipment Corrosion
>>
>>This isn't strictly speaking a tower question, because it deals with the
>>inside of my shack.  But I think that the folks with the answers are likely
>>to hang out here :-)
>>
>> 
>>
>>My shack consists, literally, of a shack.  It is a purpose built, free
>>standing, 10 foot square building.  It is of standard wood frame
>>construction, with no vapor barrier.  The siding is some kind of
>>manufactured wood product, I'm not sure exactly what it is.  The siding is
>>not painted.  The siding is nailed directly onto the studs - no paper,
>>Tyvek, etc.  The roof is typical asphalt shingle over tar paper
>>construction.  There are no vents of any kind. This location gets a fair bit
>>of fog in the summer, and rain in the winter.  The building is not air
>>tight, I can see glimmers of light coming out through cracks if I stand
>>outside at night - but not a lot of light.
>>
>> 
>>
>>My problem is that my equipment inside this shack is corroding.  For
>>example, the screw that holds the microphone shell together on my Heil
>>headset is rusted.
>>
>> 
>>
>>Before I try a fix, I'd love to hear from anyone who has actual experience
>>with this type of thing :-)  I have two theories, which unfortunately
>>conflict.
>>
>> 
>>
>>1)       The problem is that the shack is too air tight.  Water vapor gets
>>in (maybe I sweat in the shack), and then it can't get out.  So when the
>>weather is right it condenses, and that causes rust.  The fix here might be
>>to install vents, like you would typically have in an attic or basement.
>>
>>2)       The problem is that the shack is too leaky.  It needs a vapor
>>barrier.  The fix here might be to paint the walls to create a vapor
>>barrier.
>>
>> 
>>
>>In either case, I suppose that I could install some kind of dehumidifier as
>>an alternative, but that only works without vents, I think.
>>
>> 
>>
>>Any ideas?
>>
>> 
>>
>>Thanks much!
>>
>> 
>>
>>                               ***dan, K6IF
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>
>>See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>TowerTalk mailing list
>>TowerTalk at contesting.com
>>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>>
>>    
>>
>
>JOE PATRICK
>SENIOR PLUMBING/MECHANICAL
>INSPECTOR CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH
>
>_______________________________________________
>
>See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
>_______________________________________________
>TowerTalk mailing list
>TowerTalk at contesting.com
>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>
>  
>