[TowerTalk] LMR 600 Waterproof Cable Feedthroughs

[Roger (K8RI)]

On 7/30/2010 3:01 PM, jimlux wrote:
> K0DAN wrote:
>    
>> I have a variety of cables coming down the tower, including LMR600-U/F, all
>> of which go into a NEMA box, then surge suppressors, shield grounding, etc.
>>
>> The box&  cables have been there 10+ years, and as things break or change, I
>> have found that it's handy to terminate the cables coming off the tower at
>> ground level, add gender or other adaptors, run short pigtails into the NEMA
>> box, then continue the runs to other antennas, the shack, etc.
>>
>> Yes, there is more need to weatherproof the splices, and there are slight
>> impedance bumps&  losses with the extra splices/connectors, however:
>> a) you can get anything to fit your feedthrough's into the box
>> b) If something fails or needs troubleshooting, it's easy to tap into or
>> swap lines
>>
>>      
>
> Or what about SO-239:SO-239 bulkhead feedthroughs?  They're fairly
> inexpensive, and you can run whatever kind of coax inside the NEMA box
> that you want to.  Granted, the connectors on the outside won't be
> weather proof (since PL-259s aren't designed for it)
>    
Why not?  You can wrap them with  coax seal, tape,  flooded heatshrink, 
or a combination. If the flooded heat shrink goes up onto the bulkhead 
connector it will fill the exposed threads with hot glue, thus making it 
water proof.

73

Roger (K8RI)
> You could use 7-16 DIN or N if you want a more weather resistant connector.
>
> For that matter, maybe you could mount the protective device so the
> threaded part of the connector sticks out through the hole, and use
> silicone caulk to make it rain tight.
>
>
>
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