[TowerTalk] water in coax

[Roger (K8RI)]

atrampler at att.net wrote:
> OK...I did it...I kept saying, "I'll get some coax seal on that joint when..."
>
> Well, the ice storm hit before "when" hit.
>
> Does Coax dry?  If not, is there a good way to figure out how deep the water has wicked?
>
>   
Not usually and it all depends.
If the leak is at the top of a run it'll migrate a 100 feet in just a 
couple of days.  If on the level  it  varies a lot and it depends on the 
type of coax. Bury flex? No problem. 9913? big problem.  If the far end 
is flooded (not normally a  good idea) and well sealed the migration 
could/might be quite slow.  IF you know there's water  in it,  the 
easiest and most reliable is to just pitch it. I've had horizontal runs 
of LMR 400 get nicked with very little migration. I think I mentioned a 
few weeks back I had some 9913 get nicked/abraded. Two days after an ice 
storm and warmer weather left me with water running out the other end 
and this was through the braid.

If the connection (splice?  you didn't describe it) is taped  there 
should be little problem. If it's N-connectors, there may not be a 
problem. UHF? I don't even put them in temporary without tape. Coax 
Seal. Never use it-don't like it. I normally just use  flooded heat 
shrink tubing.

Good Luck es 73

 Roger (K8RI)
> Thanks!
> Art, KØRO
>