[TowerTalk] Cable Glands

[Ian White GM3SEK]

Pete Smith wrote:
>I have recently been exposed to several weatherproof enclosures using
>cable glands.  On the face of it, these devices seem to be a significant
>improvement over traditional ham radio weatherproofing techniques, which
>often rely on electrical tape or RTV for sealing.

Yes, that's why you see them everywhere in professional installations. 
I've tried everything else in this wet climate, and cable glands are the 
solution that works every time.

The cheap plastic ones are fine, and most of the time you only need two 
sizes: small ones for RG58/RG6 etc and a larger size for RG213 and rotor 
cable.

>I'm wondering,
>though, if a single gland can be used with more than one wire.  I have
>one situation where I want to bring a single wire and a small coaxial
>cable through one, and am a little skeptical about the integrity of the
>seal when this is done.
>

It won't give a good seal onto two cables, but a shot of hot melt glue 
into each end of the rubber sleeve will fill the gap. Do this with the 
sleeve pulled out of the gland and let the glue set. Then assemble the 
gland and tighten the nut to compress the sleeve some more.


-- 

73 from Ian GM3SEK
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek