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Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2002 22:25:34 -0700
From: "Dean Rachwitz" <drachwitz at home.com>
To: <dpayton at fwi.com>
Cc: <qrp-l at lehigh.edu>
Subject: [117003] RE: Weatherproofing Connections

We used this stuff by the boat-load (no pun intended) in the Navy.  We used
to get these 8oz tubes of it super cheap.  Too bad I don't have access to a
Navy supply catalog.

Here's another source, though admittedly available in small quantities, it
can be found at your local auto parts store.

http://www.permatex.com/products/prodidx.asp?f_call=get_item&item_no=22058

Did a quick search on the web and found this, too:

http://www.radio-ware.com/products/i615.htm
http://www.action-electronics.com/gcelect.htm


73,

Dean
K7ADN

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-qrp-l at Lehigh.EDU [mailto:owner-qrp-l at Lehigh.EDU]On Behalf Of
Dennis Payton
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2002 9:59 PM
To: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion
Subject: Weatherproofing Connections

I've always believed the best way to keep moisture out of an outdoor
connection is to fill the connection with something else, instead of trying
to isolate it. When I was a fairly new ham seven or eight years ago, I ran
across a tube of what I think is silicone grease, but it's called 'silicone
dielectric compound' and I've always used it. In a manner sort of like
packing bearings, I work it into every crack of a connector before
connecting it. Sometime, I even try to work it into the end of the coax
before fastening the connector. After making the connection, I wipe off most
of the excess, then just leave it exposed to the weather. Any time I
disconnect it, I squirt in a blob of grease before reconnecting it, then
wipe off most of the excess again. I even put a blob of it on the joints of
wire antennas. I've never had a problem with corrosion or moisture so I'm
sold on this method of weatherproofing. I'm sure it's not a new idea, but
all the hams around here seem to use silicone sealant and electrical tape
which I believe does an inferior job and is ridiculous to disconnect and
reconnect.

My 'silicone dielectric compound' is almost gone but I found something
called 'Lube Gel' at RS (#64-2326) that I think will work just as well. It
claims to stay in place, to not attract dust, and to be impervious to salt &
fresh water.

Denny Payton    N9JXY
Auburn, IN

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Date: Sat, 05 Jan 2002 00:56:35 -0500
From: Pete Burbank <plburbank at kih.net>
To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" <qrp-l at Lehigh.EDU>
Subject: [117006] Re: Weatherproofing Connections

At 11:59 PM 1/4/2002 -0500, Dennis Payton wrote:
>I've always believed the best way to keep moisture out of an outdoor
>connection is to fill the connection with something else, instead of trying
>to isolate it. When I was a fairly new ham seven or eight years ago, I ran
>across a tube of what I think is silicone grease, but it's called 'silicone
>dielectric compound' and I've always used it. In a manner sort of like
>packing bearings, I work it into every crack of a connector before
>connecting it.

Snip
We used Dow Corning  DC-4 on subs to eliminate topside connector problems.

Just gorp them full and put the cap on. 2+ months later when we surfaced 
every thing
worked great. It says dielectric but under connector conditions does not seem
to have a thick enough film to inhibit conductivity.
73
Pete NV4V

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