[TowerTalk] Preventing tic ring motor from freezing

[Howard Klein]

John,
That's pretty much what I was thinking of doing. Trouble is it sucks to go up there now and when the weather warms up it is easy to put it out of mind. I'll google for a silicon heating unit.
Tnx,
Howard..K2HK
HK> From: john at kk9a.com> To: TOWERTALK at contesting.com> CC: k2hk at arrl.net> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Preventing tic ring motor from freezing> Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:57:19 -0500> > I had that problem at my station in Illinois and it was most prevalent when > the temperature was just below freezing. In my case it was moisture in the > potentiometers. I did all I could to make the units seal the shafts and > then I installed a small silicone heating element in each motor housing. I > don't recall the model of the heating element that I used and unfortunately > that information is not conveniently located right now. It was small and > thin with an adhesive back and a separate thermostat also with an adhesive > back so installation was easy, except for running power to it. I never had > a cold weather related problem after installing the heaters.> > John KK9A> > > > > To: <towertalk at contesting.com>> Subject: [TowerTalk] Preventing tic ring motor from freezing> From: Howard Klein Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:51:33 +0000> > > I need some ideas for preventing my Tic Ring motor from freezing. For the > past> three years every time the temperature falls below freezing my Tic Ring > stops> working. Other times it works perfectly. Maybe I got the tropical version > :-).> I don't believe it is associated with water entering. It is sealed and this> occurs even when the WX has been dry for days. Carl says there is no grease> inside. In any case I was thinking of some type of heating strip used for> gutters or similiar. This poses the problem of thermostat and supply voltage> problems.> It has become a fairly accurate way of knowing the temperature...32 F stops> working, 33 F works FB. Any ideas?> Howard..K2HK> > > > HK >