"discona" antenna
- Thread starter Osiris007
- Start date
GadgetGeek
Member
How about if you apply a little Loctite blue Threadlocker to the threads of the radials? I had this problem many years ago with an old Radio Shack discone and this solved the problem.
Where are you mounting that they would fall in the street?
You screw them in and tighten the nut. Mine has been up for 2 years without issue.
paulears
Member
Locktight doesn't complete cover the threads - just a tiny dab on the final few. To be honest I have never bothered. The metal oxidises once outside, and I always have to heave with a spanner to get them undone after just a few months. Never had one on any antenna unscrew and fall out of properly done up.
Every antenna I've assembled and mounted with radials had nuts that could be tightened up with a small wrench/spanner, including a discone antenna from Radio Shack. I never had any radials fall off, even through heavy wind storms.
If you are concerned, you can check the antenna periodically, especially after storms, and make sure everything is tight.
If you are concerned, you can check the antenna periodically, especially after storms, and make sure everything is tight.
Not sure how it compares to thread lockers, but there are conductive epoxies.
Henkel Loctite 3888 Silver Filled Electrically Conductive Adhesive 2.5 g Packet
Henkel Loctite 3888 is a room temperature cure epoxy adhesive designed for bonding of metals, ceramics, rubbers and plastics as used in electronic parts, where good adhesion combined with electrical and thermal conductivity is required. 2.5 g Packet. Part Number: 29840; Manufacturer SKU: 2027182
LOCTITE® SI 5421
LOCTITE® SI 5421 is a room-temperature cure, 1-part formed-in-place silicone adhesive. Ideal for automotive sensor bonding and gasketing of EMI/RF shielded enclosures, it creates an electrically conductive bond for reliable shielding and adhesion performance. Expect low stress and high flexibility.
next.henkel-adhesives.com
Adhesives and Sealants Distributor
Technical Expert Dow Corning Distributor, Loctite Distributor, Henkel Distributor, Lord Distributor, HumiSeal Distributor, Silicone Distributor, Electronic Manufacturing, Aerospace Manufacturing, Lighting Manufacturing
K4EET
Chaplain
Do you have a manufacturer and model number for the discone antenna? Maybe we can pull up an assembly manual to see how your antenna is made. That might give us some additional ideas on how to secure the radials.
paulears
Member
I can 100% assure you that if you tighten the radials with a spanner, the damn things won't come undone - the diamond hardware goes powdery very quickly. I took an old diamond down after 7 years and no way were those radials coming out!
GadgetGeek
Member
K4EET
Chaplain
I have that antenna…
In addition to the nut on each horizontal rod, my “design” includes a stainless steel lock washer between the base and the nut. I also put a tiny drop of red Loctite on the nut threads. Note also that these rods MUST be installed after the sloping radials are installed.
For the sloping radials, which are to be installed first, make sure that the filed end lines up with the set screw. For the set screw, which needs to be securely tightened, I also added a drop of red Loctite.
The Loctite will not hinder the rods (elements) or radials conductivity to the overall assembly. Like others have said above, using no Loctite should work just fine due to the oxidation of the metal. I used red Loctite to insure things never loosen unless a propane torch is used to heat up the item to be disassembled.
wtp
Member
in 1975 my electronics teacher said after screwing stuff in, use your sisters nail polish.
it might be the same firmness as the light locktight.
by the way, locktigh comes in different strength.
some you have to heat to red hot, some are like nail polish.
and if done after screwing them in you don't have to worry about the connection.
www.loctiteproducts.com
it might be the same firmness as the light locktight.
by the way, locktigh comes in different strength.
some you have to heat to red hot, some are like nail polish.
and if done after screwing them in you don't have to worry about the connection.
Homepage
www.loctiteproducts.com
Last edited:
Ubbe
Member
You don't need electrical contact from radials.
Even any small distance from isolating lock-tite would not be of such a low capacitance that it will matter.
/Ubbe
Even any small distance from isolating lock-tite would not be of such a low capacitance that it will matter.
/Ubbe
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