{"id":453,"date":"2011-11-15T11:34:55","date_gmt":"2011-11-15T16:34:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kb1awv.com\/?p=453"},"modified":"2011-11-15T11:34:55","modified_gmt":"2011-11-15T16:34:55","slug":"feed-line-issues-revisited","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/idlenot.com\/?p=453","title":{"rendered":"Feed line Issues Revisited"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Scotch 2228 Moisture Sealing Electrical Tape - Good Stuff!<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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This is a scene right out of Cady Shack. Where's Bill Murray when you need him?<\/p><\/div>\n

How do you weather-proof your feed line connections and the coax itself?\u00a0 Some coax claims to be direct-bury or buriable (my word processor spell check does not like that word).\u00a0 Just cover it over with dirt and forget about it.\u00a0 That idea never appealed to me so I have always insisted on running short lengths of PVC and placing my coax inside that conduit.\u00a0 The last time I did this I
\nneglected to seal the underground junction of the two 10 foot pieces before placing it under the soil.\u00a0 Water got in.\u00a0 Of course, there was no harm since I had to dig it up anyways.\u00a0 My original plan was to bury the PVC and then snake the RG8X\u00a0coax through it.\u00a0 That works well for about the first six inches.\u00a0 Then it won\u2019t go anywhere.\u00a0 You can do it with RG8, the thick stuff, but not RG8X.\u00a0 So, I dug up the PVC, glued together the underground portion, dropped the coax through it and then snugged the 90 degree angles at each end.\u00a0 That went well enough.<\/p>\n

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It looks like somebody used too much of that purple PVC cleaner goop.<\/p><\/div>\n

Next, how do I keep the connection between the short length of coax coming from the antenna and the feed line dry?\u00a0 In the past I would wrap it with a very fine product called Coax Seal.\u00a0 It came in 5 or 12 foot x \u00bd\u201d rolls.\u00a0 The product is quite flexible and nicely conforms to the connectors and keeps water out.\u00a0 I would also cover the whole mess with electrician\u2019s tape just to be sure.<\/p>\n

Recently when I wanted to purchase some more Coax Seal I ran out of luck.\u00a0 My old standby, Radio Shack, no longer sold it.\u00a0 They are not the source of ham radio supplies they once were.\u00a0 I was lucky to get out of there with a roll of solder.\u00a0 I checked\u00a0 online sources and found that a 12 foot by \u00bd\u201d roll was going to cost about $6.00 plus another $6 for shipping at most places.\u00a0 That didn\u2019t\u00a0 sound like a very economical way to make a purchase.\u00a0 I know, I could just buy $50 worth of other stuff and it would even out; but,\u00a0 I did not need all that other stuff!\u00a0 Where to go?<\/p>\n

I went to my local box store, Home Depot.\u00a0 I came away with something called Duct Seal.\u00a0 They use it to seal those heating ducts that are in your house.\u00a0 It said it was moisture resistant and I recalled seeing it used on holes in the house that the cable guy made outdoors.\u00a0 I gave it a try.\u00a0 Once again I smothered the my PL-259\u2019s and barrel connector with the product.\u00a0 Then I wrapped it all in electricial tape.\u00a0 The first time it rained I had big mess of goop and plenty of trapped water.\u00a0 That was a failure.\u00a0 It looked like I was going to have to order $50.00 worth of Coax Seal.<\/p>\n

I made one more desperate search of Home Depot and I happened upon Scotch
\nProfessional Grade 2228 Moisture Sealing Electrical Tape<\/a>.\u00a0 Wow, that name sounded like a description of just what I was looking for.\u00a0 For about $8.97 I got a 1 inch by 10 foot roll (that would be equivalent to 20 feet of one half inch material).\u00a0 The stuff works great.\u00a0 Since it is so wide it does not take much to cover up the connection quickly.\u00a0 It stretches nicely and adheres tightly.\u00a0 I put it to use and did not use any electrical tape.<\/p>\n

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One more way to recycle a water bottle.<\/p><\/div>\n

The only other precaution I am now using is my water bottle.\u00a0 I surrounded the entire junction with a plastic water bottle to help keep the majority of the rain out.\u00a0 So far it is working well.\u00a0 I expect it will get through the winter just fine!\u00a0 Bring on the DX.<\/p>\n

Note: While cutting a hole in the bottom of the water bottle I managed to let the craft knife slip.\u00a0 This produced much blood and four stitches to close up the wound.\u00a0 It’s kind of like those old cartoons in QST where the guys only put up antennas when it is snowing.\u00a0 I am real good at injuring myself.\u00a0 Maybe you can learn from my mistakes.\u00a0 Always cut AWAY from your hand.<\/em><\/p>\n

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