[TowerTalk] [wwdxc] RG213 Woes

[Clint Talmadge]

The directions that Steve gives are the same instructions we used while I was in the military maintaining towers and antennas in places that were no fun to maintain towers and antennas.

We first secured the connectors using mechanical means. We were issued Cable Pliers which had soft plastic jaws.

Then we put a layer of what the Government called "Self Vulcanizing Tape". I was stretched to twice it's length, then wrapped at a 50% overlap. If the cable was vertical the wraps were from the bottom up to insure the top wrap was over the bottom wrap (giving you the shingle effect).

Then a layer of High Grade Vinyl Tape wrapped in the same manner and direction as the "Self Vulcanizing Tape"

I remember replacing an antenna on Bolo Point, the northern most point of Okinawa, at least 3 years after I installed it and after cutting the tape lengthwise using a razor knife the connectors and the barrel looked as they did on installation. That is three years exposed to the elements 50 meters from the salt water on a coral knob with nothing to block the wind or weather.

It was good enough for the Government then and it is good enough for me now. It is the way all my antenna connectors  are waterproofed and with the exception of one run of 9913 I acquired and was foolish enough to use, has never failed me.

Clint - W5CPT
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: K7LXC at aol.com 
  To: wwdxc at yahoogroups.com ; denneny at comcast.net ; k7cw at yahoo.com ; towertalk at contesting.com 
  Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 6:13 AM
  Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] [wwdxc] RG213 Woes



  In a message dated 7/19/2007 1:06:42 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
  wwdxc at yahoogroups.com writes:
   
      >  I forgot to mention, also, that the  use of barrel
  connectors is discouraged, particularly in outdoor
  runs.  Somehow corrosion always seems to occur in these
  connectors, causing the swr  (and losses) to rise.
   
          I think the gist of this  thread is weatherproofing. I've installed 
  dozens (hundreds?) of barrel connector  and other coax joints over the years 
  and don't know of any that've failed. Most  amateurs make one or more mistakes 
  when weatherproofing coax joints. 
   
          First, use 3M 33 or 88  tape. The 3 for a buck stuff from the 
  hardware store won't cut it. 
   
          Next, use 2 pairs of  pliers to seat the connectors to the barrel 
  connector. I'm not talking about  deforming the PL259 - it's just that finger 
  tight is not enough.
   
          Wrap 2-3 wraps of tape  over the joint. Use a 50% overlap. Apply 
  vapor wrap (butyl rubber - there are a  number of variations) over the joint. Wrap 
  2 more layers of tape over the vapor  wrap. If the coax runs vertically, the 
  last wrap should go up. That'll make the  water run off like shingles on a 
  roof. Wrapped the other way and you've got a  perfect duct for the water to get 
  into the connection. 
   
          Jim, you said you used  these materials but maybe there was a step 
  you missed or something. Following  the above scenario will give you a bombproof 
  joint. Even leaving off the vapor  wrap will still result in a reliable 
  weatherproof connection. Some commercial  installers spray the finished joint with 
  clear Krylon spray paint which is  more belt-and-suspenders approach. 
  ScotchKote has been used in the past but it's  really for buried connections and will 
  dry up and flake off when used in an  outdoor application like this.
   
  Cheers & GL,
  Steve     K7LXC
  TOWER TECH -
  Professional tower services for hams
  Cell: 206-890-4188


   



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