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+--- Thread: Can E-field antenna be casted in resin? (/showthread.php?tid=3213)
Can E-field antenna be casted in resin? - OH4GRM - 2020-05-31
I wonder if E-field antenna could be casted in resin to make it more weatherproof. Would casting detoriate the performance? I have thought to put the antenna inside a plastic pipe tube and then fill it with resin to seal it from rain and weather.
Comments appreciated,
OH4GRM
RE: Can E-field antenna be casted in resin? - kevinmcc - 2020-05-31
Basically potting the antenna. Potting should be fine since we are looking for very low frequencies.
May want to look for resins that are designed for that purpose.
RE: Can E-field antenna be casted in resin? - dupreezd - 2020-05-31
OH4GRM Wrote:I wonder if E-field antenna could be casted in resin to make it more weatherproof. Would casting detoriate the performance? I have thought to put the antenna inside a plastic pipe tube and then fill it with resin to seal it from rain and weather.This is what I did for my E-Probe. I installed a dummy 2" vent with a cap near the top of the rood. It sticks out about 12" above the roof line
Comments appreciated,
OH4GRM
From inside the attic.
I mounted the amplifier to a shortened 3/4" cap, put the coax inside the 3/4" pipe, screwed the end to the amplifier and place the cap on the pipe. The pipe is just long enough, so the probe wire does not touch the outside cap.
E-Connected.jpg (Size: 24.85 KB / Downloads: 113)
I now place the 3/4" pipe inside the 2" and it rests on a screw at the bottom. (see picture 2)
This keeps it safe, dry and easily reachable. No going up and down the roof.
RE: Can E-field antenna be casted in resin? - dupreezd - 2020-06-01
I forgot to mention, instead of using epoxy which is sort of permanent, you can use conformal coating. You get it in both brush on and spray.
For such a small board, I would use brush on. It will allow you much better control and keep it off the screw connectors.