[TowerTalk] Buried Pvc For Coax Run

[Carl R. Stevenson]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com 
> [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of 
> coulter at bellsouth.net
> Sent: Monday, July 05, 2004 9:26 AM
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Buried Pvc For Coax Run
> 
> 
> I have seen in many previous posts about buried PVC for coax 
> runs, and that some people have drilled holes in the bottom 
> of the PVC to allow for drainage for any kind of condensation 
> within the pipe. My question is whether this would allow for 
> water to seep in under conditons of heavy rains where the 
> ground is saturated. I would think this would happen even if 
> you put rocks at the bottom of the trench to allow for some 
> water to drain. If you have any input on this I would appreciate it. 

I have a couple of underground 2" sechedule 40 electrical conduit PVC runs
for coax to get from the house to where the base of/under the feedpoint of
antennas that are away from the house ... I used "sweeps" (large radius 90
degree fittings) at the ends to ease the bending radius on the coax.  Then I
added a "service head" at the top of each sweep to allow coaxes to exit
without allowing water in. (remember to make a "drip loop" below the service
head)

I did NOT use perforated PVC pipe or drill any drain holes in the bottom.  I
think that would allow water to rise up into the conduit.

In any event, the coax used is rated for direct burial/non-contaminating
jacket ... I would use no less outdoors.  The conduit is mostly to protect
the coax from the rocky ground here, from rodent chewing, and from the
mower/weed-wacker.
(and to allow easily pulling replacement/additional coax cables without
having to dig again)

73,
Carl - wk3c