[TowerTalk] Heat tape for relays

[Kirk Kleinschmidt]

I have an insulated plastic tote in the back yard, at the base of my inverted-L antenna. Inside is an autotuner, a choke, and a very large relay. Initially, my heating element was an automotive tail light bulb, which got too hot (LDG tuners stop working below about 10 F). My present heating element is a 25-W resistor (potted inside a ridged metal case with a large, flat mounting flange). The resistor is bolted to a 4x5 inch piece of copper PCB. By adjusting the input voltage from the shack, the resistor dissipates 5-8 W (19V DC input), which keeps the box warm (or warm enough). These resistors cost about $2 each and seem to be infinitely reliable.
Best of luck,
Kirk, NT0ZRochester, MN

My book, "Stealth Amateur Radio," is now available from www.stealthamateur.com and on the Amazon Kindle (soon) 

    On Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 05:32:42 PM CST, RONDALL SPENCER <n4vos at bellsouth.net> wrote:  
 
 They make a silicone pad heaters as well I use them under battetys in cold weather. All sizes. 
Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 8, 2025, at 5:54 PM, Jim W7RY <jimw7ry at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Here you go!
> 
> Normally they are $130.00 +
> 
> https://www.ebay.com/itm/376010633667?_skw=SCB-50+120V+50W+Screw+Base+Heater&itmmeta=01JNVZC4TZQANMAJB4MFSBRZJQ&hash=item578bfaf1c3:g:-oMAAOSw77Nncw2S&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAABAFkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1el3RD7Sa7UJU7n2PhXB8EKyAif7WMChhiImXG%2F0zvh%2BzKbC7QT1UOZoLpZc2Hbd614GDeJ8rVpp5g6m0bx%2FVTTBA3HopeQq9j%2BdA1rpzq26YOrHQqqprNeX7nouT%2BQNzBEohjNoMbxwa2f%2FEGMDDY74CVupl%2BkqHzWBjt1Sp%2Fv4aNhv0IuMdrMGascMfuvIAM5LjnNxIot%2FWUC0oUZCnHwJWhmmF7Jf1xSj2cVrTks3DLv1pBKX%2FdIlxyHCY9VIkfQrYqrw1TUpRkHwsYZmyLhQiUX%2BBBZMcIBg7Vjet5iQudj%2BPXZhas%2FSCvHijg2%2F4g%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-rNsP-uZQ
> 
> 
> Jim W7RY
> 
> 
>> On 3/8/2025 3:49 PM, Martin A. Flynn wrote:
>> Another option:
>> 
>> https://www.chromalox.com/en/products-and-technologies/component-technologies/cartridge-and-insertion-heaters/specialty-cartridge-heaters/edison-base-cartridge-heaters
>> 
>> Ratings from 50 to 200W
>> 
>> 73 Martin
>> 
>> W2RWJ
>> 
>>> On 3/8/2025 4:00 PM, W7TMT - Patrick wrote:
>>> In some industries it is called "heat trace cable". Several sources including this one have it available in shorter lengths and/or by the foot by using appropriate terminals. It is also available in a 12/24V DC configurations.
>>> 
>>> https://www.heatingelementsplus.com/heat-trace-cable.html
>>> 
>>> GL
>>> Patrick, W7TMT
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Patrick Barkey
>>> Sent: Saturday, March 8, 2025 12:32
>>> To: towertalk at contesting.com
>>> Subject: [TowerTalk] Heat tape for relays
>>> 
>>> I have a lot of relays in this station, and many are outdoors (in enclosures).  Over the last few years it has become apparent that the occasional super cold nights are making some of them flakey.  They stick -- if I go out with a hairdryer I can free them up.
>>> 
>>> These are enclosed relays.
>>> 
>>> I am wondering if anyone has ever tried using heat tape for this kind of application?  I could just flip it on when I needed it. Most heat tape I see is for water pipes and is 6 feet long or so.  I could try to use this, but what I really need is something smaller and possibly flatter.
>>> 
>>> Any ideas?  Thanks.
>>> 
>>>    - Pat
>>>      N9RV
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