[TowerTalk] Black

[K0DAN]

It was already black when the mower got to it. The problem could have been 
there for several years.

Some years back this feedline had a Carolina Windom (off-center fed 260' 
dipole), feedpoint had coax terminated in a choke. On occasion I would have 
trouble getting a good match at QRO on 160M which led me to believe I might 
have saturated the choke and burned it up. Eventually the antenna blew down 
and it was a moot point. However the blackened braid which we speak of was 
near the junction of the "feedline" and the end of the choke. If I did burn 
the choke or have arcing in the coax, it could explain the blackness, 
however the dielectric and center conductor are in good shape and there is 
no smell/feel of typical carbon burns. I suspect this is corrosion but 
cannot rule out a HV event. CSI and antenna forensics!

73
k0dan



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "K8RI on TT" <k8ri-on-towertalk at tm.net>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 2:08 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Black


> On 6/13/2011 11:07 PM, Martin Staffa wrote:
>> It is water infiltration toss it, or cut it back until shiny and use it 
>> for
>> jumpers. Martin
>
> it may or may not be.  I've had surplus coax braid turn black just from
> being stored in a shed that would get quite hot in the summer.
>
> The signs are not good either way, but black is one of the few colors
> that is hard to pin down just by looking at it.
> OTOH it it was wet when the lawnmower cut the jacket (did it peel a
> piece, or cut it in two) it would turn black in short order. (IE a
> couple of days)
>
> 73
>
> Roger (K8RI)
>> _______________________________________________
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