[TowerTalk] Coax Seal yea or nay?

[K8RI]

On 5/20/2013 5:35 PM, Bill Parry wrote:
> I have been following along with this line and have really been interested
> in the different ways that folks have been "proofing" their connections.  I
> thought that the way that I had been doing it was the most common but I
> guess not. The tower guys that first put up my antennas had used coax seal.
> After my antennas were fried by lightning, I had the devil getting that
> stuff off and it does flow in the heat here.  After reading towertalk
> (several years ago) I settled on a different way of sealing. I cover the
> coax connector with Super #88 followed by a coat of liquid electric tape,
> followed by another coat of #88.
>
> After about 5 years I had another strike and took down the antennas. I
> replaced all the coax runs and stubs. Every connection was sparkling clean
> like new. It was easy to get the stuff off too. I put liquid tape on to keep
> the connection waterproof and solid. You can't leave that stuff on the
> outside because it only lasts for about 15 minutes. I use the second coat of
> tape to protect the liquid tape.

I used Liquid electrical tape on a number of connections and one 
particularly vulnerable one.  It's the feed for my 160 half sloper.

I made an L bracket out of Aluminum and bored it out yo fit an SO-239 
chassis connector.  The bracket is held to a tower leg with two SS hose 
clamps.  http://www.rogerhalstead.com/ham_files/tower47.htm  shows it in 
detail temporarily mounted down low to pose for photos.

The SO-239 is mounted, threads down and the end of the half sloper comes 
from a strain insulator to be soldered into the chassis side of the 
connector.  It's been up for quite a few years and is still good.

I've not had any problems with the red liquid coming off or leaking so 
far and I think it's been up over 6 years.  I also use it on Yagi hardware.

Apparently YMMV

73

Roger (K8RI)

>
> For beginners just using electrical tape, always use #33 or #88 (available
> at Home Depot), and be careful when you cut/tape it down that you don't
> "pull on it" or it will pull itself back loose and "flutter in the breeze."
> I know this from personal experience!
>
> Bill W5VX
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
> Richard Thorne
> Sent: Monday, May 20, 2013 3:26 PM
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Coax Seal yea or nay?
>
> I like using this stuff
> http://www.dxengineering.com/search/part-type/tape/product-line/dx-engineeri
> ng-3m-temflex-2155-rubber-splicing-tape?autoview=SKU
>
> I just dismantled a vertical yesterday which had the rubber used as the
> first layer and a layer of 3M Scotch Super 33 to protect it. The connection
> was well protected and was easy to remove by carefully using an xacto blade.
> The rubber adheres to the surface of the coax and
> pl-259 very well, but when removed, does not leave a mess.
>
> Rich - N5ZC
>
>
>
> On 5/20/2013 12:51 PM, K7LXC at aol.com wrote:
>>> Is 3M Scotchcote no longer in favor?  After a full wrap of  tape,  a
>> coating of this messy stuff has kept connectors dry and shinny for  years.
>>
>>       Yes, lots of folks use it. It was designed for  burial and really
>> doesn't have much in the way of weather or UV resistance.  After a
>> couple of years, the ScotchKote flakes off too. Some cell installers
>> I've seen use a clear Krylon spray paint. Probably does a little better.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Steve    K7LXC
>> TOWER TECH
>> _______________________________________________
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