Sealing Coax Connectors and Coax Cable from the Weather

Jim Heath W6LG shows how he seals two PL259's and a bulkhead connector, He also shows a connector for Heliax that is available from
www.hamsupply.com/pl-259-for-...
Temflex 2155 @ www.amazon.com/3M-Temflex-Rub...

[@cwebs1000]

Hi Jim. I had to change from Isopropyl Alcohol to Denatured Alcohol. Isopropyl always left me with a white sticky haze that was a bear to clean off on PCBs. Denatured Alcohol cleaned great and made the job much easier. I agree with everything else you say. Thanks for your work and time in these vids. Carl, AB1ZI

[@ham-radio]

THANKS! Great advice and help to all of us. Thanks again Carl for your help. I will get some denatured. I have used isopropyl to clean my skin for injections of B12. I also use it to clean my lenses with the help of a Q tip. Thanks for a better way.. 73, Jim W6LG

[@jeepien]

Jim, this may not apply with the self-healing tape you use, but I'll pass along a tip I got from an even older-timer who had experienced problems opening up sealed connectors and having trouble getting the adhesive shmoo off of the connectors. When first sealing, start with a layer of vinyl tape wrapped sticky-side OUT, so there is no adhesive on the metal at all, then proceed with further layers as usual. If you have to slit it open, the connectors come out clean as a whistle. =AK2QJ

[@amateurshooter6054]

Thanks Jim 73 AB7RR Bob God Bless America

[@ham-radio]

Thanks Bob. 73, Jim

[@K3KTB]

Thanks for making this video. From now on I'll use the bulkhead connectors rather than barrel connectors. Looks like it makes a much more secure connection with the nuts. 73

[@ham-radio]

I think so Kevin. Give it a try and let us know what you think. 73, Jim

[@thomasperina2990]

Great video sir: Thanks for the tip on the exterior tape for connectors, 73's , TMP from N.J.

[@ham-radio]

Either that tape or the stuff sold on Amazon. I am doing another video using information from Billy ZS1SBW. He climbed his 100 foot tower and replaced the tape a few days ago so that we could see how he does it at the beginning of Africa. He climbed 100 feet with his cellphone to help us! 73, Jim

[@alanjames4526]

Nice video , Jim.

[@JamesJohnson-ny3xz]

Thankyou, Jim. Good Knowledge, I Appreciate Your Help With This. Thankyou, Thankyou, James.

[@ham-radio]

Glad that I could do it. If there is something you would like to see, let me know via QRZ. 73, Jim

[@davep6977]

I use the same hardline connector. I found once the coax is in the connector if I tap the connector end with my pliers, it seats the center conductor inside those "fingers" for the center pin. It makes a connection you can't pull apart. Then tighten the collar. Thanks for the qso. Great video. Dave W9DLP

[@sincerelyyours7538]

Where I live the only 70% IPA I can get is the stuff used in hand sprays for Covid disinfection. I prefer to use 99% IPA like that used in wood finishes. It's expensive but leaves no mineral residue from the water because there's so little water in it to begin with. Also, the low water content can't attack the coax from within the connector and degrade performance over time. You still need to waterproof the joined connectors per Jim's instructions to keep the weather out, however.

[@DK5ONV]

BEAUTIFUL! Uncle Jim, you are a Genius Tech. 73 de YFUG from the German Frontier 🍻🙋‍♂

[@ham-radio]

Not sure that the out of focus thing worked all that well. I was trying to make a point. And, I did not look so good that day. 73, Jim

[@DK5ONV]

@@ham-radio A big virtual hug is sent into Rocklin / CA 🙋‍♂

[@ham-radio]

@@DK5ONV Do you know DF2PY? Dr. Wolf Ostwald is good friend.

[@DK5ONV]

@@ham-radio I don't know him in person but I talked to him 2 times as he worked the Pacific Wesrtcoast of USA. He lives 9 miles southwest from my Portable Radio Place down the Rhine River

[@daveN2MXX]

Great job with the video! Good info for people who want to do this properly. 73

[@ham-radio]

Glad it was helpful! It was better on that day to be out of the picture and just focus on the connector. I will explain why soon. 73, Jim

[@greasydot]

Nice having breakfast with Jim today. Nice to see you sir. Great video as always.

[@ham-radio]

Thanks 👍 I'd love bacon, sausage and some over easy eggs. And a cup of really strong coffee. 73, Jim

[@greasydot]

@Jim W6LG bacon, eggs over easy, homemade grape jelly on my grandmother's biscuits. My coffee is so strong that it will take the stripe off a skunk. Let me know your coming, and I will set a plate for you and the misses.

[@thomashenderson603]

I heard you this morning in a QSO with Jim in Tenn!

[@ham-radio]

Good. I try to be active. 73, Jim

[@beekeeper8474]

I got the 3m stuff from home Depot and covered in uv proof tape. Worked so far for 2 years.

[@ham-radio]

Excellent to hear that. Thanks. 73, Jim

[@mikeoswald8053]

Blurry or not, great instructional video. Thank you and 73 Jim-AA7MO

[@ham-radio]

Many thanks! I, of course, wamt guys to see the connector and not me. Frankly, I was looking pretty sickly and decided to do the video that way. I have good days and bad days. My voice was a little rough to as this disease is affecting my vocal cords on some days. I have more tests in a few weeks to see where my blood is at. I am probably going to do a video about what happened to me. Thanks again. 73, Jim W6LG

[@angelhelp6819]

Good afternoon Jim I'm so happy and glad you back on KZbin stay well and be safe let me know how you feeling if you are okay

[@ham-radio]

Hi and thank you. I have decided to do a video and discuss what is going on with me. I know you and I have talk about a few things. I will tell more in the video about MDS and Osteoporosis. Thanks for checking on me and caring. I do appreciate it very much. 73, Jim

[@whitetiger8652]

Nic job!

[@ham-radio]

Thanks, Jim

[@RichardDePas]

I need to get up on my roof mounted tower and check my connectors for my hex beam. Developed RFI issues that grounding and toroids haven't helped. Have a feeling some water got into my connectors. Thanks for the video. 73 K9WWW

[@ham-radio]

Good luck! Be careful. If before you get on the tower, you want to talk about what is happening, we can do a Skype or Zoom. I'd be happy to discuss the RFI issues, etc. 73, Jim

[@glenmartin2437]

Thank you. A good video. NOQFT

[@AliReza-zx8km]

Nice..................... ❤️

[@ham-radio]

Thank you so much Ali. How are you? Are you working on any projects. 73, Jim W6LG

[@WW5RM]

Rubber Splice tape. Self emalgamating......or whatever you called it. European term I believe. Never heard it before until looking online and a guy from Europe said it. Anyway its used by electricians to make electrical connections. Even on 480V. It's at all hardware or electrical supply stores. Many brands of it. Some have a plastic like layer between each wrap / layer. That works but is a pain to work with! Takes even more practice. But is the older original type I believe. Yes pull it snug. If you notice you had some gaps in it. That wouldn't pass a test! But if you pull to hard it will stretch to thin and or break. Takes practice. Over time it forms a solid bond. Then put a layer or two of regular black electrical tape. But always cover the ends. Always end it on top of itself away from the ends. Never stop the outer electrical tape at the end of a wrap. Go back on top of itself so it's stuck to itself and not the cable or wire. Needs to be clean. But I never have used alcohol to clean it. Only if the connectors had residue or were dirty. Done properly this with last a lifetime! If you ever need to take it apart just run a knife or box cutter down it's side. Just don't go to deep and into the coax outer jacket. Once cut it will open up like pealing a orange! Well almost. Still very easy to undo / remove. It's TONS better than that Coax Seal tar crap! Throw that nasty crap in the garbage! I have a Splice I made over 20 years ago and is still in great shape! No I've not opened it to inspect it but only the outer electrical tape has shown signs of weathering. I just retape the outer when it's accessible if needed. I will say..... This is in the East Texas heat. Not up north where it's cold. Not sure how harsh cold affects it. But doing it in the winter or cold you need to warm the tape. Keep it in your pocket if outside.

[@marlevr]

Jim thank you for the video. What's your recommended source for quality connectors?

[@ericdee6802]

Messi & Paolini made in Italy, very well built and a massive sellection!👍

[@stevekrueger3928]

Jim, do you have any thoughts on quality non-Chinese adhesive lined heat shrink for sealing?

[@ham-radio]

Seems to be okay. 73, Jim

[@JayN4GO]

Nice info. How long had that hardline been outside? Water seems to always find a way in. Looks like condensation on the shield of the old connector.

[@ham-radio]

Excellent question. At my house probably 10 to 15 years. For most of that time, it was unused due to that connector. 73, Jim.............thanks Jay

[@JayN4GO]

@@ham-radio that self amalgamating tape is the best thing since the Morse key. Will definitely last along time.

[@ham-radio]

@@JayN4GO dit dah dit dah dah dah dah dah dit dit dit dah dit 73, Jim

[@thomaspressy3410]

hey jim thanks for the video as far as the self amalgamating tape goes how long will it last on a lightning protector always worry about u.v. radiating heat from the sun light and any heat that travels threw my lmr400 coax...73

[@ham-radio]

Mine lasted for a few years. A friend, ZS1SBW changes his tape every 14 months. 73, Jim

[@thomaspressy3410]

@@ham-radio thanks jim your the best

[@bro.weaver1282]

Do you have any thoughts in putting a "loop" in your coax at the top of the tower to stop water from ruining whole coax?

[@ham-radio]

I thought that I had mentioned 'drip loops'. Yes, use them and they work. 73, Jim

[@batfalcononyoutube]

For the quality they provide, they are rather cheap. 10 USD! In Greece we can't find a quality connector less than 18 euros!!!

[@ham-radio]

I have no looked at Waters and Stanton. I will go do that today just to see what they have. Thanks for watch and the thumbs up. 73, Jim

[@skyking6989]

I despise pl259s!! There so lossy. N connectors are so much better. I really wish hams would use N connectors

[@ham-radio]

Dear Skylar King in your Songbird, PL259's are not lossy. I have proved that over and over and over. There is no loss in a UHF male. 73, Jim W6LG

[@skyking6989]

@@ham-radio On the hf bands you are correct but on your own website you stated anything above 30 mhz the N connector is better. Look I'm a ham myself and we all have preferences. If I'm gonna crimp connectors I'm going with N or SMA

[@ham-radio]

@@skyking6989 Agreed and many thanks. UHF connectors are awful at UHF and down to VHF. Some have VHF above 6 meters. Some do not. The tests for loss that I did and will do again soon was roughly at 28MHz. Sky King was a favorite TV show for me and my brother. 73, Jim

[@skyking6989]

@@ham-radio 73

[@fourfortyroadrunner6701]

No, sorry, the tightening procedure for the barrel connector leaves me cold. BNC/N other connectors do not need to be "tight' as the ground and center both are made, basically "without" the outer sleeve. NOT SO UHF connectors (PL-259). If the shell becomes loose, the shield connection becomes loose. Poor design. The shell MUST be tight to maintain a ground connection between the shell body and the sleeve / barrel, and the teeth of the male body end against the teeth of the barrel end. While the locknuts "may" help prevent loosening, it is important to have some torque on the sleeves to maintain "tight." Thermal cycling can cause loosening. Here in N Idaho we have had temps well into -20F region, and summer temps banging on the 100F door. Frankly everybody would be better off if UHF connecters "went bye." And for the newcomers, they ARE NOT "UHF" connectors. PL-259-ish connectors were named that "back when" UHF was considered a LOWER frequency range!!!

[@ham-radio]

I think 50MHz was considered UHF. 73, Jim