protecting outside coax connections

[LeeBarnes]

I have a Diamond D-130J. i know that one must protect their connection if it's going to be outside by wrapping around the connector.

however, on this diamond, the connection is covered up, so to speak. look here. as you can see, the coax runs up the metal tube and connects to the bottom of the ant. on the INSIDE of the tube. now, it's not a perfect seal at the top, but it doesn't seem that water could get inside. do i still need to wrap it up, cause it was be pretty tight to do so.


finally, could i have some tips on how a wrap a connector, please? i have another ant. i'll be putting up soon so i'll need to know. i know to wrap it from the bottom up to create a shingle effect and use like three different kinds up tape. but what kinds? i think some electrical tape, and some kind of putty tape stuff?

thanks

 

[Al42]

as you can see, the coax runs up the metal tube and connects to the bottom of the ant. on the INSIDE of the tube. now, it's not a perfect seal at the top, but it doesn't seem that water could get inside. do i still need to wrap it up, cause it was be pretty tight to do so.

Still wrap it the normal way. There probably won't be much thread showing on the antenna side, but wrap as high as you can go. Then drop everything into the mast and finish the installation according to the instructions.

I also use liquid tape run down from the cable inside the connector.

finally, could i have some tips on how a wrap a connector, please? i have another ant. i'll be putting up soon so i'll need to know. i know to wrap it from the bottom up to create a shingle effect and use like three different kinds up tape. but what kinds? i think some electrical tape, and some kind of putty tape stuff?

Plain 3M electrical tape - I don't have any here, but IIRC it's #33. You won't save any money by using the cheap stuff. Your cable, connector and antenna connector won't last very long.

Wrap starting about 1" below the connector. Take 2 turns with no stretch of the tape, then start stretching the tape a little to wrap up the cable, up the connector on the antenna, then down the cable. No stretch on the last 2 turns. You can cover the whole thing with a couple of coats of liquid tape if you want.

I've found that good coax, properly made connectors and good taping result in a connection that lasts longer than the cable. (The carbon in the outer insulation starts migrating due to UV, and the cable seldom lasts more than 10 years without increasing loss.)

 

[kc2kvz]

I have had good luck using "coax seal", wrapped using the same method as 42 mentions.

 

[kb2vxa]

KC2KVZ and the group,

Coax Seal has a nasty habit of drying out and cracking over time and it's messy to remove for servicing the connector. I have been wrapping with tape using the Al42 (military) method for 30+ years and have never had any problems. BTW, I use a Comet tri-bander (2M/220/70cM) and didn't give the connector any special consideration, it's a tight fit so moisture shouldn't be a problem. Oh, the exposed connector on my homebrew 6M rigid horizontal dipole got the tape treatment and it's been OK for 4 years in this nasty coastal environment.

"In God we trust, everyone else we monitor"

God is monitoring YOU and his name is Riley. (;->)

 

[TeRayCodA]

Wal-Mart sells some rubber self-fusing tape,that I have used for years.You'll also need to completly overwrap this with some of the 3M tape as mentioned above,because it "weather-cracks"if left exposed.

 

[kc2kvz]

Warren;
Good point about the coax-seal being messy... I guess I haven't had it in use long enough to get the drying and cracking, but I will be sure to check closely next time I'm... well... looking closely .

And yes, Riley is listening!

73

 

[thomast77]

KC2KVZ and the group,

Coax Seal has a nasty habit of drying out and cracking over time and it's messy to remove for servicing the connector. I have been wrapping with tape using the Al42 (military) method for 30+ years and have never had any problems. BTW, I use a Comet tri-bander (2M/220/70cM) and didn't give the connector any special consideration, it's a tight fit so moisture shouldn't be a problem. Oh, the exposed connector on my homebrew 6M rigid horizontal dipole got the tape treatment and it's been OK for 4 years in this nasty coastal environment.

"In God we trust, everyone else we monitor"

God is monitoring YOU and his name is Riley. (;->)

What is the Al42 (military) method? I cannot find it on google.

 

[kb2vxa]

Oh boy, you sure resurrected an OLD thread, my antennas and last place of residence no longer exist. OK, with antenna connectors it goes like this; using cheapo black vinyl electrical tape (so called quality doesn't stretch well) starting a couple inches down the coax spiral wrap stretching and overlapping turns keeping tension as you go. Continue upward as high on the antenna connector as you can get. Still keeping tension wrap once around so no threads are exposed and go back the same way. When you reach the starting point relax tension and go at least one turn at a right angle to the axis, cut the tape (don't tear it and leave a ragged edge) and lay it flat.

When taping in-line connections such as a Bltz Bug lightning arrestor, grounding ferrule or adapter assembly go a few inches up the opposite coax and apply the one turn trick there, then go back. In either case the second layer criss-crossing the first ensures no moisture ingress. When you're done you should see metal underneath clearly outlined if the tape has properly conformed to the shape.

 

[thomast77]

Thank You for the explanation