[TowerTalk] Trap Drain Holes

[Brian Alsop]

I lost one trap due to exactly this.  Wood wasp got into the trap and 
built his mud and saliva nest.

I've taken a bit different route.  I use fine mesh plastic window 
screen. The reasoning of course is that it's designed to keep out 
insects. I simply place a strip of it over the holes. Several strips of 
Scotch 33 tape is used (wrapped around the circumference of the trap) to 
secure it.  Of course one doesn't tape up the holes!

A balun I recently purchased recommended drilling 1/16" weep holes where 
the water would accumulate with the balun in place.  Apparently this 
diameter is small enough to keep out the bigger insects which cause 
trouble. Supposedly it it large enough to still allow water to escape.

73 de Brian/K3KO


On 4/9/2013 03:17, Dan Hearn wrote:
> The ideal antenna drain hole would have a reasonably large diameter but
> would not allow insects to enter and build nests. I believe there is a way
> to accomplish this.
>    There is a material used in sanding pads which is springy and would allow
> water to pass but not insects or debris. It is somewhat similar to steel
> wool physically but is not electrically conductive as far as I can tell. I
> have been using strips of it to wrap around wires into and out of metal
> cabinets at the base of my towers to discourage Wasps from entering. It is
> quite springy and I have noticed no deterioration over 5 or more years here
> due to sun and weather conditions .
>    If you have a coil in a PVC cover I would drill a hole possibly 1/2 inch
> or so in diameter , cement a short piece of PVC tubing into it at the
> bottom maybe an inch or so long and insert some of the springy sanding pad
> material into it.
>    None of my antennas have traps so I have not tried this. I plan to get
> some of the stuff and check if it affects the inductance of a coil out of
> curiosity
>    There are probably readers out there who know more about this material
> than I do and I invite comments on this idea..
> Dan, N5AR
>



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