[Hi-zreceivingarraydiscussions] Idea for weatherproofing amps

[Jacques RAMBAUD]

Hello all , Dave , any pictures available ?? Thank you
73
Jacques F6BKI
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Raymond" <daraymond at iowatelecom.net>
To: "Hi-Z" <hi-zreceivingarraydiscussions at hizantennas.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2011 10:00 PM
Subject: [Hi-zreceivingarraydiscussions] Idea for weatherproofing amps


>I put up an 8 circle-narrow 160m array early last December.  I was in a 
>quandary as to how to weatherproof the amps at the antenna elements.  Being 
>pressed for time and having a snowstorm bearing down on me, I wrapped the 
>amps in plastic grocery bags and secured the mess with tape.  And it was a 
>mess but it kept things dry, or so I thought.  I had not given 
>consideration to condensation.  Cal, W0IZL, mentioned to me that he used 
>the same approach and had experienced enough condensation problems that a 
>couple of his amp boxes had to have work.  I felt more pressed to find a 
>more permanent, suitable solution that would allow for air circulation.
>
> In my pondering as to how to approach a more permanent solution, I put the 
> amps inside of 4" PVC with caps on top and leaving the bottom open.  I was 
> just going to strap the PVC to the side of my mounting pipes and bring the 
> antenna and ground wires in through small holes in the side of the PVC. 
> In my discussions with Toni, N0NI, he suggested drilling a hole in the 
> pipe cap and sliding the antenna element (in my case, 1" aluminum) through 
> the cap with a piece of 4" PVC attached to it.  I cut the 4" PVC in 15" 
> length and put an assembly together to try.  It works quite well.  The PVC 
> cap rests on the screw which passes through the 1" aluminum elements and 
> secures the antenna wire to it.  I sealed the hole in the PVC cap around 
> the aluminum passing through it with liquid tape.  The PVC pipe covers the 
> amp and associated wiring.  I did drill the hole in the cap somewhat off 
> center to allow a little extra room for the amp which was is tie wrapped 
> to the side of my steel "U" type 4' fence post.  Now that I've tried one 
> and am pleased I'll be finishing up the other seven elements in a similar 
> manner tomorrow (if we don't get rain or snow).
>
> 73. . .Dave
> W0FLS
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