Need goop to coat antenna connector

[[email protected]]

I dont know how to explain this stuff, but there is some sort of black
or gray putty like goop that I have seen that is used to seal things.
I know they use it on furnace ducts and the like.

What I have is a automotive CB antenna mounted on my metal rain gutter
on my house. It's not for CB, but is for my police scanner.
Considering it's not really tuned for scanner, I am amazed how well it
picks up distant signals. However, I have a problem. The antenna
works fine in dry weather, and even in rain. However, it gets screwy
from snow. I am fully aware of why. It's because the snow piles up
at the base and touches the connector where the coax hooks to the
antenna. There is a large nut down there and it is exposed. It's
located less than an inch from the rain gutter when mounted, so it
dont take much snow to screw things up.

What I need is a means to insulate it. I could use silicone caulk,
and I know that would work well, but I want something that can be
removed so I can get that nut off if I need to. I know because it is
so close to the mounting bracket I could not get a decent wrap of
electrical tape, and also know that tape tends to hold moisture once a
little water gets in. But there is that black goop. It sticks real
well, and is waterproof, and yet removes easily. Does anyone know
where to get that stuff, or know of anything else I can use?

Thanks

PS. I am terrible at math. What wavelength is a CB antenna on a
scanner? What I mean, is referring to half wave, quarter wave, etc...
Anyone ???

Mark

 

[Harvey]

[...]

But there is that black goop. It sticks real
well, and is waterproof, and yet removes easily. Does anyone know
where to get that stuff, or know of anything else I can use?

Do you mean Self Amalgamating Tape?
http://www.cybermarket.co.uk/ishop/923/shopscr1691.html

That's the stuff I always use on plugs/sockets if they are exposed to the
weather. Its looks a bit like electrical PVC tape, but it doesn't have the
glue; instead you stretch it and it sticks to itself, eventually forming a
fairly solid 'blob' of waterproofing. Easy to get off with a knife.

 

[Allodoxaphobia]

I dont know how to explain this stuff, but there is some sort of black
or gray putty like goop that I have seen that is used to seal things.
I know they use it on furnace ducts and the like.

Visit a decent hardware store (probably not a Big Box place) and ask
the Olde Timer back in the electrical dept. for some "Elephant Shit".
It's a grey, 1/2 brick-sized piece of putty-like stuff.
Just what you want.
Maybe tape over it after you apply it -- just to prevent its migration
over time.


HTH
Jonesy

 

[[email protected]]

Right, sometimes called self fusing tape in America. I've used a
silicone type that's suitable for buried video cable. That one's red.
Richard

 

[Jamie]

I dont know how to explain this stuff, but there is some sort of black
or gray putty like goop that I have seen that is used to seal things.
I know they use it on furnace ducts and the like.

What I have is a automotive CB antenna mounted on my metal rain gutter
on my house. It's not for CB, but is for my police scanner.
Considering it's not really tuned for scanner, I am amazed how well it
picks up distant signals. However, I have a problem. The antenna
works fine in dry weather, and even in rain. However, it gets screwy
from snow. I am fully aware of why. It's because the snow piles up
at the base and touches the connector where the coax hooks to the
antenna. There is a large nut down there and it is exposed. It's
located less than an inch from the rain gutter when mounted, so it
dont take much snow to screw things up.

What I need is a means to insulate it. I could use silicone caulk,
and I know that would work well, but I want something that can be
removed so I can get that nut off if I need to. I know because it is
so close to the mounting bracket I could not get a decent wrap of
electrical tape, and also know that tape tends to hold moisture once a
little water gets in. But there is that black goop. It sticks real
well, and is waterproof, and yet removes easily. Does anyone know
where to get that stuff, or know of anything else I can use?

Thanks

PS. I am terrible at math. What wavelength is a CB antenna on a
scanner? What I mean, is referring to half wave, quarter wave, etc...
Anyone ???

Mark

get your self a can of liquid tape.

 

[Allodoxaphobia]

Visit a decent hardware store (probably not a Big Box place) and ask
the Olde Timer back in the electrical dept. for some "Elephant Shit".
It's a grey, 1/2 brick-sized piece of putty-like stuff.

Just got back from the HW store (on some other errand.) Whilst there
I checked: None of the "kids" ever heard of "Elephant Shit", but the
Olde Timer did. And, it's probably not found in the electrical dept.
It is as you thought 'duct seal', and it comes in 1 lb bricks.
One brick ought to last you a lifetime -- even if you're an
Amateur Radio Operator with a decent antenna farm.

Jonesy

 

[Charles Schuler]

I dont know how to explain this stuff, but there is some sort of black
or gray putty like goop that I have seen that is used to seal things.
I know they use it on furnace ducts and the like.

What I have is a automotive CB antenna mounted on my metal rain gutter
on my house. It's not for CB, but is for my police scanner.
Considering it's not really tuned for scanner, I am amazed how well it
picks up distant signals. However, I have a problem. The antenna
works fine in dry weather, and even in rain. However, it gets screwy
from snow. I am fully aware of why. It's because the snow piles up
at the base and touches the connector where the coax hooks to the
antenna.

You might be reaching the wrong conclusion. The problem could be snow
static which is an accumulation of static charge or the discharge of charged
particles.

 

[Anthony Fremont]

I dont know how to explain this stuff, but there is some sort of black
or gray putty like goop that I have seen that is used to seal things.
I know they use it on furnace ducts and the like.

"COAX Seal" is what your looking for. It's black and sticky (sorta like
tar) and sold in a roll. It's great stuff.

What I have is a automotive CB antenna mounted on my metal rain gutter
on my house. It's not for CB, but is for my police scanner.
Considering it's not really tuned for scanner, I am amazed how well it
picks up distant signals. However, I have a problem. The antenna
works fine in dry weather, and even in rain. However, it gets screwy
from snow. I am fully aware of why. It's because the snow piles up
at the base and touches the connector where the coax hooks to the
antenna. There is a large nut down there and it is exposed. It's
located less than an inch from the rain gutter when mounted, so it
dont take much snow to screw things up.

If rain doesn't affect it, I'm surprised that snow does. AFAIK, snow is
non-conductive until it melts.

What I need is a means to insulate it. I could use silicone caulk,
and I know that would work well, but I want something that can be
removed so I can get that nut off if I need to. I know because it is
so close to the mounting bracket I could not get a decent wrap of
electrical tape, and also know that tape tends to hold moisture once a
little water gets in. But there is that black goop. It sticks real
well, and is waterproof, and yet removes easily. Does anyone know
where to get that stuff, or know of anything else I can use?

Radio Shack carries it and you can get it from Amateur supply houses.
If nothing else, I'm sure you could find it here:

http://www.coaxseal.com

PS. I am terrible at math. What wavelength is a CB antenna on a
scanner? What I mean, is referring to half wave, quarter wave, etc...
Anyone ???

That would depend upon the frequency your trying to receive and the type
of CB antenna. If your CB antenna is just a 1/4 wave (on CB) ground
plane, then it will likely be anywhere from ~1/4 wave at 30Mhz to many
wavelengths long on a trunk system.

 

[Harvey]

[..]

http://www.coaxseal.com

That stuff seem to be the same as the self amalgamating tape I posted about
earlier - I'm guessing its about the same sort of suff, just under a
different name.

 

[Allodoxaphobia]

You might be reaching the wrong conclusion. The problem could be snow
static which is an accumulation of static charge or the discharge of charged
particles.

Yep. My ham shack is down in the basement, and on these dark, cold
winter evenings, I can usually tell when it's snowing -- from the
pop-snap-pop-pop-snap-snap.... I hear from either the 6 meter or the
2 meter rigs (or both.) I can also tell how _hard_ it's snowing -
by the repetition rate.

Less frequently, I'll observe the same effect with light rain.

I have _never_ had 'piled-up' snow cause any such problems.

Since you are _only_ using the antenna for receive, you could try
running an RF choke from the base of the antenna to ground (to the
outer braid of the feedline.) That could lessen the annoyance.

Jonesy

 

[Anthony Fremont]

[..]

http://www.coaxseal.com

That stuff seem to be the same as the self amalgamating tape I posted about
earlier - I'm guessing its about the same sort of suff, just under a
different name.

I think it's different. The coax seal is kinda thick >1/8". The tape
your talking about is much like electrical tape that permanently bonds
to itself after some time, isn't it?

 

[Harvey]

[..]

http://www.coaxseal.com

That stuff seem to be the same as the self amalgamating tape I posted about
earlier - I'm guessing its about the same sort of suff, just under a
different name.

I think it's different. The coax seal is kinda thick >1/8". The tape
your talking about is much like electrical tape that permanently bonds
to itself after some time, isn't it?

The stuff I have is about 1/8" thick too, separated with a thin plastic film
to stop it sticking together.

The roll I have is about 15 years old (and still as good as new). I've had
no need to buy any since so although I assume the stuff on the market these
days is the same as I have, but I don't honestly know.

This stuff I have actually 'melts' into itself over time, forming a solid
blob after a few years that sticks to the coax but doesn't actually stick to
the metal parts, and can be cut and pealed away if needed.

I have also seen a sort-of duct tape / gaffer tape used before - that was
like the normal duct tape but without the shiny backing - so it stuck to
everything as a horrible gooey mess - not recommended - as it's a almost
imposable to remove without getting it stuck to your fingers, hands,
clothes, hair, carpet, dog, cat.....

 

[Anthony Fremont]

The stuff I have is about 1/8" thick too, separated with a thin plastic film
to stop it sticking together.

That sounds about the same, but the seperator is like wax paper.

The roll I have is about 15 years old (and still as good as new). I've had
no need to buy any since so although I assume the stuff on the market these
days is the same as I have, but I don't honestly know.

The coax seal seems to have a long shelf life as well.

This stuff I have actually 'melts' into itself over time, forming a solid
blob after a few years that sticks to the coax but doesn't actually stick to
the metal parts, and can be cut and pealed away if needed.

This is where it sounds a bit different. The coax seal bonds instantly
to itself. You just wrap it around and then massage it a bit like putty
and it's just one solid piece after that.

 

[TimPerry]

in addition to (or sometimes in conjunction with) the above mentioned
techniques, 3m scotchkote is available at better electrical supply sources.

it is usually applied after taping up a connection. just paint it on.

 

[[email protected]]

"COAX Seal" is what your looking for. It's black and sticky (sorta like
tar) and sold in a roll. It's great stuff.


If rain doesn't affect it, I'm surprised that snow does. AFAIK, snow is
non-conductive until it melts.


Radio Shack carries it and you can get it from Amateur supply houses.
If nothing else, I'm sure you could find it here:

http://www.coaxseal.com


That would depend upon the frequency your trying to receive and the type
of CB antenna. If your CB antenna is just a 1/4 wave (on CB) ground
plane, then it will likely be anywhere from ~1/4 wave at 30Mhz to many
wavelengths long on a trunk system.

Thanks to everyone for the help. That coaxseal.com website referred
me to Radio Shack which has the coax seal in smaller amounts for about
$3. That solves that problem.

Next time I get to the hardware store I got to ask for elephant shit,
just for the heck of it.

Charles said "snow static which is an accumulation of static charge or
the discharge of charged particles.". Can someone explain what causes
the static? I never heard of that.

Mark

 

[Charles Schuler]

Charles said "snow static which is an accumulation of static charge or
the discharge of charged particles.". Can someone explain what causes
the static? I never heard of that.

You can Google for precipitation static, rain static, snow static, dust
storm static, and so on. Essentially, when there is friction between two
bodies (perhaps a snow flake and the atmosphere), electrons get transferred
from one atom to another leaving a net charge. When the charged particles
strike an antenna, they make nose since the imbalance is corrected by the
antenna structure (electrons transfer between the particle and the antenna).

 

[[email protected]]

You can Google for precipitation static, rain static, snow static, dust
storm static, and so on. Essentially, when there is friction between two
bodies (perhaps a snow flake and the atmosphere), electrons get transferred
from one atom to another leaving a net charge. When the charged particles
strike an antenna, they make nose since the imbalance is corrected by the
antenna structure (electrons transfer between the particle and the antenna).

Thanks.
I was not aware such a thing existed.

Mark

 

[none]

Thanks to everyone for the help. That coaxseal.com website referred
me to Radio Shack which has the coax seal in smaller amounts for about
$3. That solves that problem.

Next time I get to the hardware store I got to ask for elephant shit,
just for the heck of it.

Charles said "snow static which is an accumulation of static charge or
the discharge of charged particles.". Can someone explain what causes
the static? I never heard of that.

Mark

I use plasticoat which can be gotten at most hardware stores.
Normally used to recoat tool handles etc...
Works great on CB antenna's ans such.
Comes in three basic colors blue, red and white.
But can be ordered in black as well.

 

[A man]

You could use silicone caulk. It will get pretty firm when cured and will be
easy to peel off if you need to.

You can also use roofing sealer, which is a black, tarry substance. However,
that appears more sticky and difficult to remove.

Or try plumber's putty. It is designed to be used in wet conditions.