[Antennas] Anti-Corrosion Compound

[Gary K9GS]

Chris is exactly correct.  Never put anything inside the connector; 
there is no need to do so.  Once moisture has made it that far (inside 
the connector) failure is the next step.

Personally, I leave the coax seal off.  I've never had a problem with 
just the Scotch rubber tape and then Scotch 33 or 88.  The rubber tape 
is self fusing and will form an impenetrable barrier to moisture.

On 12/12/2010 11:01 AM, Chris Boone wrote:
> This has been recently discussed on a broadcast mail list I am on (been
> doing 2way and broadcast engineering for 35 yrs now)
>
> 1) NEVER EVER put ANYTHING inside the connector...No silicon except on
> threads and NO SILICONE (the reactive agent will eat through the inside
> dielectric of coax and cause  it to fail bigtime
> 2) The preferred way to seal connectors is: A) run a THIN coat of silicon
> (NOTE NO E at the end) on the THREADS of the connector then B) snug up
> connectors but DO NOT overtighten C) put a layer of preferably Scotch Rubber
> Tape down...if not, use 33 or 88 in its place. Try to make it snug against
> the connector body, etc...run over the ends of the connector(s) in question,
> then put a layer of Duct Seal or Coax Seal and mold to get as much of the
> air pockets as possible out...THEN put another layer of tape, this time
> Scotch 33 or 88 (do not use Rubber here)....and then a final layer of the
> same tape ....MAKE SURE you DO NOT stretch the ends..CUT them and allow them
> to pull back until wrapping it down...DO NOT use Scotch Kote where it is
> exposed to UV sunlight..it WILL degrade and be gone in a year....(Personally
> found that 20yrs ago)...The Duct/Coax seal will keep water and air out...and
> when you need to open the connectors, just use a straight razor blade
> lengthwise and slit the sealant, etc open and peel it back like a banana
> skin...your connectors will be CLEAN and easy to open...
>
> Ive used this for 20+ years and NEVER had an issue on a connector...
>
> DO NOT FLOOD the connector with ANYTHING!!! NO NO NO!!!!! Only on the
> THREADS should you CONSIDER SILICON (NO SILICONE!!) grease and then only a
> thin layer to keep the threads from seizing..other than that, NOTHING else
> should be used..
>
> I HOPE that helps save some connectors, etc from going bad....
>
> Chris
> WB5ITT
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: antennas-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:antennas-
>> bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Ed Tanton
>> Sent: Sunday, December 12, 2010 10:21 AM
>> To: dhallam at knology.net; antennas at mailman.qth.net
>> Subject: Re: [Antennas] Anti-Corrosion Compound
>>
>> I personally prefer Penetrox sold at:
>> (http://www.dxengineering.com/Parts.asp?ID=17&PLID=192&SecID=90&De
>> ptID=33&Pa
>> rtNo=DXE-P8A for $14 plus S/H ) - but you said local ONLY. The stuff sold
> at
>> Home Depot comes in different flavors depending on the metal. I'm sure
>> they
>> have aluminum-or at least they did the last time I noticed this several
>> years ago.
>>
>> On a silicone note: I once (in my misspent youth) coated a
>> plastic-tape-covered coax connection on the bottom of a 5-BTV. Within 2
>> weeks it was a dead short for which nothing less than a complete scouring
> of
>> the antenna base (screw) connections would remove the short. Ergo, it
>> should
>> not be used within a city block of anything remotely
> electrical/electronic.
>> Go to your friendly auto supply store and find the electronic-grade
> Penetrox
>> sealant. Works like a million $$$ for just a few, and is utterly
>> non-corrosive.
>>
>>
>> Ed Tanton  N4XY
>>
>> website: http://www.n4xy.com
>>
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>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
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>>
>> William Penn
>> --------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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-- 


73,

Gary K9GS

Check out K9NS on the web:  http://www.k9ns.com
Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org
Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com

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