[TowerTalk] Yaesu Rotator connector replacement - trailer-style vs. Amphenol Eco-Mate

[Eric Scace K3NA]

Hi Gene --

   Yep, we tried staggering the butt splices and wrapping the bundle, 
just like you did.  Water got between the loose wires of the bundle and 
under the tape.  And the whole splicing procedure was time-consuming and 
tedious.

   One could split out each wire separately, butt-splice it, and then 
wrap EACH butt splice separately with the three-layer method.  That 
would be even more time consuming.

-- Eric K3NA

on 07 Feb 01 Thu 21:09 ersmar at comcast.net said the following:
> Eric et al:
>
>      I taped the only outdoor trailer light connector in my system - the one underneath the rotator base.  I,too, believed that that was a point for water ingress, so I took precautions.  The other two connectors are in a NEMA 3X enclosure and inside the shack so water shouldn't be a problem.
>
>      The wires that are molded into the Wireman's trailer light connectors (my source) are individual #12 or #14 gauge color-coded wires.  I butt-spiced them onto the main, round rotator cable run at the three connector points.  But I staggered the lengths of the pigtail wires so I didn't have the splices aside of each other; rather, each splice begins at the end of the last one.  (PITA.)  When finished with the mechanical splices I wrapped the entire bundle in tape, although filled shrink wrap would have been better.  
>
>      The eight-pin trailer connectors from the Wireman currently cost $8.25 ( http://www.thewireman.com/prodpix6.html .)  I certainly would urge adding tape to any outdoor connection where they are used.
>
>      Caveat Amateur.
>
> 73 de
> Gene Smar  AD3F
>   
>