[TowerTalk] Weatherproof Remote Antenna Switch Box Plus

[N4ZR]

For what it's worth, I had an Ameritron RCS-8 at the base of my tower 
for 21 years with no protective box.  I *was* careful to waterproof the 
coax connectors, but nothing special, just electrical tape.  The tower 
was in a medium-dense woods, so not exposed to heavy wind, but it looked 
like new when I took everything down.

73, Pete N4ZR
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On 3/8/2019 4:00 PM, Patrick Greenlee wrote:
> The gland of a cable gland is a form of packing gland.  A cable gland 
> for coax will have a relatively soft rubber insert through which the 
> cable (coax or whatever)) is passed and then compressed to attain a 
> weather tight seal.  A threaded portion of the fitting is screwed down 
> to compress the soft rubber insert.
>
> On 3/8/2019 2:27 PM, WW3S wrote:
>> Look for Altelix on eBay, has a good selection of weatherproof nema 
>> housings...
>>
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>>> On Mar 8, 2019, at 3:03 PM, jrquark via TowerTalk 
>>> <towertalk at contesting.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Thank you for your reply.
>>>
>>> I appreciate knowing the source and the term, ‘cable glands.’
>>>
>>> The measurements were rough, but since the Ameritron Antenna Switch 
>>> will reside in the box and both box and the switch will be attached 
>>> to the 45G tower leg, I need some space to accomplish that.
>>>
>>> James Forsman
>>> jamesforsman at me.com
>>> https://jrquark.smugmug.com/HamRadio
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> On Mar 8, 2019, at 2:49 PM, jimlux <jimlux at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> On 3/8/19 10:27 AM, jrquark via TowerTalk wrote:
>>>>> G’day all;
>>>>> After many years/decades of minimal amateur radio work, I finally 
>>>>> have a tower with rotor and beam, dipole and vertical.  I finally 
>>>>> installed a five position remote coax switch.  I would like to 
>>>>> weatherproof the assembly by enclosing it in a weather tight 
>>>>> case.  The case or enclosure could be found at the local big box 
>>>>> store or electrical contractor’s supply store, which should 
>>>>> measure; Width = 10”, Depth = 9” and Height = 12”.
>>>>> If you have a great suggestion for suppliers, please let me know.
>>>> What you are looking for is often called a "Hoffman box" (Hoffman 
>>>> is a major manufacturer of such things). Generically what you're 
>>>> looking for is probably a "raintight enclosure" (NEMA 3R).
>>>>
>>>> They're available in plastic as well.
>>>> With or without a panel that mounts in the back (so you can 
>>>> assemble your stuff on the panel, and then it mounts on pressed or 
>>>> welded in standoffs inside the box.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Your sort of size is pretty common - it's used for things like 
>>>> Cable TV and such.  You might find something at L-com.com
>>>>
>>>> http://www.l-com.com/nema-enclosures?cmp=LM1
>>>>
>>>> 9" might be deep for a 12x10 box
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Plus:  I am at a loss for the weatherproof pass-throughs for the 
>>>>> RFC 600 & RG 8 coax.  Believe there was a distant discussion for 
>>>>> such items.
>>>>
>>>> There are a variety of ways to do this.. there's "cable glands" 
>>>> which provide a weather tight seal around a cable, but you probably 
>>>> won't get the coax connector through.
>>>>
>>>> You could use bulkhead feedthroughs, connector on the inside, 
>>>> connector on the outside.  Or jumper cable with a jack on one end 
>>>> that mounts through the box wall and plug on the other end to 
>>>> connect to your relay.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Thank you for the suggestions.
>>>>> Jim  - K7BIE - Somewhere now enjoying PureMichigan
>>>>> James Forsman
>>>>> jamesforsman at me.com
>>>>> https://jrquark.smugmug.com/HamRadio
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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