[TowerTalk] RTV Sealant / vapor wrap

[ac9s at mchsi.com]

Steve wrote:

" I don't recommend it. Regular RTV (room temperature  vulcanizing) 
outgasses ascetic acid which is not recommended around  electrical-type 
connections. 
You don't see any professional tower/antenna  installers using the stuff. What 
they do use is a good tape (e.g. 3M 33 or 88)  and then a layer of butyl 
rubber vapor wrap. I hate CoaxSeal but that's the kind  of stuff. Professional 
vapor wrap versions do not stick to the connectors  (unlike CoaxSeal) and are 
available from _www.championradio.com_ (http://www.championradio.com) . 
 
    If you've got your heart set on using RTV, use the  kind for aquariums 
which does not outgas the ascetic acid. 
 
Cheers,
Steve       K7LXC
TOWER TECH -
Professional tower services for hams
Cell: 206-890-4188
and 
Champion Radio Products"

Steve,  Is the butyl rubber vapor wrap the same as Scotch rubber mastic tape 
(2228), which is available at the big box stores?  I have been wrapping joints 
in two layers of reversed Scotch 88/33 (sticky side up), then overlapping with 
the rubber mastic tape, protected with another double layer of 88 or 33.  I 
only have about 5 years experience with the mastic, but connectors that I 
recently exposed looked like new.

Thanks --

Keith
AC9S