[TowerTalk] UV Resistant Ty-Wraps?

[Jerry Keller (K3BZ)]

I like to use "Linerless EPR High Voltage Tape" such as Plymouth / Bishop 
L969 Plyvolt.  Most of the major tape makers have an equivalent, and it 
comes in various widths. It's a thick rubberized tape with a plastic or 
paper interleaf that keeps it from contacting itself until you are ready to 
use it.  You stretch it out to about double it's length and wrap it tightly 
on. It's "self-vulcanizing"... meaning after you wrap it on, it welds 
permanently to itself but not very much to what you are wrapping.  I use it 
for sealing coax connectors, binding coax and cables to booms and tower 
legs, and any other taping where I want a quality wrap and a durable seal.

Binding coax to a tower leg, for example, I put a layer on the tower leg, 
then another layer over coax-plus-tower leg.  If it's a high strength 
requirement subject to stress like the last wrap before a rotator loop, I 
might  add a clamp or a couple of ty-wraps over the tape-and-coax, and cover 
the whole business with another layer of tape.  I sometimes finish with a 
coat of Liquid Electrical Tape, especially if I'm sealing a connector.  I've 
had these seals in use for years and have yet to see one fail or leak.  No 
flags either, even after years on the tower, and I haven't noticed any UV 
damage either.  Not surprising, really, since this stuff is used by linemen 
on high voltage lines, etc.

This isn't a cheap way to do things, and for some situations it might be 
overkill, but it gives a pretty good quality wrap.  Oh, and when you have to 
remove them, just slit with a razor knife and they come off nice and clean, 
just like the connector beneath.

73, Jerry K3BZ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <K7LXC at aol.com>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>; <dezrat at copper.net>
Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 8:33 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] UV Resistant Ty-Wraps?


>
> In a message dated 7/19/2007 5:15:31 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
> towertalk-request at contesting.com writes:
>
>>  As a general rule, I don't trust any ty-wraps to last when  exposed to
> UV rays. By the time you find out if yours are any good it's too  late.
>
>
>    I don't trust any tie-wraps either. Well, maybe  the really thick long 
> on
> es used on commercial sites. Putting some electrical  tape over a tie-wrap
> renders it virtually immune to any UV problems.  Your old 
> belt-and-suspenders
> approach.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve      K7LXC
> TOWER TECH
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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