Weather Sealing Type-N and PL-259 Connections

[Wrvq441]

Greetings!

What do you use to seal your outdoor Type-N and PL-259 connections?  Is dielectric silicone acceptable, or should I be using something else?

[Borage257]

Electrical tape

[JeepCrawler98]

I usually do a single wrap of electrical tape over the exposed threads to keep them clean, wrap the whole thing in linerless splicing tape (3M 130), then wrap that with electrical tape (3M Super 33). I'll wrap from bottom to top in exterior connections - same way you'd shingle a roof, for the same reasons. Have never had an issue with it - Type N connectors are better than PL259 not just for loss, but they're technically weatherproof as well (although I wouldn't trust them by themselves).

Edited January 17, 2023 by JeepCrawler98

[Borage257]

1 minute ago, JeepCrawler98 said:

I usually do a single wrap of electrical tape over the exposed threads to keep them clean, wrap the whole thing in linerless splicing tape (3M 130), then wrap that with electrical tape (3M Super 33). I'll wrap bottom to top in exterior connections - same way you'd shingle a roof.

This is the way

[gortex2]

I use the kit. #m tape around cable and connectors, then Buytel Tape then 3M on the outside of this. I try to use 2" on final wrap but have used 3/4 3m when i ran out of 2"

 

[labreja]

DX Engineering has a video on Youtube which shows how to weatherproof connectors. 

I have also attached their PDF.

I used both of these resources which really helped me.

weatherproofingcoax-techtip.pdf

[hfd376]

Just a thought coming from a catv/broadband feedline environment, we use a glue lined thermal shrink tube and apply with a torch. I have repaired moisture damaged passives that were "weatherproofed" years ago with self fusing splicing tape. Often we would have to cut a foot or more of water damaged cable. I understand my environment is somewhat different. Those of you with "radio shop" experience, what's your thoughts?  

[JohnE]

variation on Jeep crawler that I have used for decades is self vulcanizing silicone tape, E tape, butyl mastic and more tape. Have used heat shrink w/"glue"  inside where tape was not really an option.