[TowerTalk] Sealing the ends of coax

[Roger (K8RI)]

Tim Holmes wrote:
> Hi folks;
>
> Couple weeks back, someone posted a link of information on how to seal the
> end of coax when im attaching it to my rotatable dipole 
I use liquid electrical tape. You can also use epoxy (Not the thick 
stuff you find in hardware and big box stores), or vinyl ester resin. 
The resin has a much lower viscosity and will wick into the braid much 
better.
> -- i currently have
> the coax wound and taped as a choke, and then the end is skinned back and
> attached to my dipole center to one side shield to the other -- i tried to
> seal it with silicone but it appears water has gotten in (fluxuating swr
> etc)
Water in the braid shouldn't do that unless you are using 9913 which is 
like a water pipe.  The water gets to the connectors and that's where 
the trouble starts.  Water in the braid or center conductor will 
eventually cause corrosion and loss resulting in a LOWER SWR.

Erratic SWR almost always indicates a poor connection or flash over at a 
connector.  I'm assuming you left the dielectric on the center conductor 
for the pig tails?

73

Roger (K8RI)
>  so i need to either chop off the wet part and start over or install new
> coax -- but either way -- i need to seal it --
> any help would be appreciated
>
> TIM
>
>