Kerry,
Although it is a good idea to apply a very small amount of silicone
compound to the threads of a connector, one must be careful to not let
any of the compound get on the electrical contacts. One of the primary
reasons for using type N connectors on antennas is that they are
watertight when properly installed and are therefore not prone to
corrosion.
Using any kind of feedline that contains aluminum shields is asking for
trouble down the line. Despite efforts to seal the connections, there
will eventually be corrosion due to dissimilar metals. Don't forget
that ambient humidity is seldom zero, so whatever moisture is in the air
at the time the connections are sealed will be trapped there to start
corrosion. That's one reason why hollow feedlines are purged with dry
air or dry nitrogen.
Using top-quality connectors, coupled with careful workmanship, is the
way to avoid corrosion. I use silver-plated N connectors that have
gold-plated pins, and I use the specified tools to crimp them onto the
cable. Although I use genuine RG-214/U silver-plated cable for short
runs, the antenna feedlines are usually Heliax. The key here is to have
only silver-to-silver junctions, which may oxidize slightly without
impairing the connection at all. Silver oxide is conductive, while
aluminum oxide is an insulator- an important distinction!
I seal all outdoor connections with self-vulcanizing rubber tape,
covered with a layer of plastic electrical tape. It's a bit
time-consuming to protect the joints this way, but it pays off in the
long run.
73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY
kerry mail wrote:
> Is there anything that can be applied to the inside of an antenna
> connection to prevent corrosion and oxidation?....Kerry - WA2NAN -
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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