On 2013-02-06, at 8:32 AM, Tom W8JI wrote: > > As a standard practice, and from field experience, we flooded the center of > the connector with clear silicon dielectric compound. A suitable material is > readily available at almost any auto parts store as "Dielectric Tune Up > Grease" in a silver squeeze tube. >
Standard practice with some cable TV systems here in Ontario is to use Vaseline-brand petroleum jelly as an aid against water intrusion & corrosion... Here, with my "L's", I use ordinary PL-259 / SO-239 coax connectors at each base: I apply Vaseline to the prongs of the PL-259's, and swab a bit onto the threads of the SO-239's , before mating them. I then apply a VERY generous coat of Silicone !! sealant all over the pair, well beyond the end of the connector & on up the coax cable... Come Spring, when it's time to stow the antenna, I simply get an X-acto knife, make a longitudinal cut into the silicone (being careful not to cut TOO deep), then peel off the silicone... I've done this for some 6 years now, with nary a problem with water intrusion---and the connectors come apart just as easily as the day that I Vaselined them... Call the technique "red-necked", or "hillbilly", it works for me---and it uses cheap, readily-available, material... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _________________ Topband Reflector
