[TowerTalk] Hopeful it's just ice
K8RI on Tower Talk
k8ri-tower at charter.net
Sun Jan 16 23:01:23 EST 2005
Well, we had two days of heavy rain and way above normal temperatures. That
was followed by an abrupt fall to well below freezing and now my antennas
won't turn.
It appears that the rotor PST-61 is frozen.
I did have to mount it horizontal to fit into the tower and to give it some
rain protection. Unfortunately the rain was horizontal at times.
At the same time I discovered water on top of the hutch over my rig. Turns
out the water was coming out of the control cable to the remote antenna
switch. (remember recent thread about waterproofing cables?).
That cable jacket "used to" end inside the remote switch enclosure. So...
either something has pulled the jacket out (it was tied in a knot), or there
is a break in the jacket some where on the tower above the height of my
desk. There was enough water setting on top of the desk to ruin the desk
top. Unfortunately it was also running down into the 756 Pro. fortunately
it didn't seem to collect on anything. I took the rig apart, let it dry and
it seems to work well.
So, for the time being I have the remote control cable with a drip loop that
has a hole in it down in the basement. That keeps any water from making it
back to the rig.
Now I get to cross my fingers and hope the rotor only has water in it and
that it'll work once it thaws.
I have a heat gun. Any one want to make a climb?<:-))
When it warms above freezing, in a few weeks, I'll have to see if it still
works.
Roger Halstead (K8RI, EN73 & ARRL Life Member)
N833R, World's Oldest Debonair (S# CD-2)
www.rogerhalstead.com
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