[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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