I think you (Skipp) may be confusing 130C with one of the other 3M products.
130C is the self-vulcanizing (self-amalgamating?) tape. It has no adhesive;
it's not sticky or gooey; itt doesn't leave any residue. In fact, it
doesn't even leave a black "stain" on connectors like regular vinyl
electrical tape; it leaves nothing behind. 3M et al make mastic pads/tapes
which, for lack of a better descrption, are like vinyl electrical tape with
"taffy" already attached to one side, with a liner that you remove before
applying (i.e. to keep the taffy from sticking to the next layer of tape in
the roll. Maybe that's what you're thinking of, Skipp?
Even without a courtesy wrap, 130C comes off nice a clean when you slit it
with a knife, no muss, no fuss.
I've been a big fan/proponent of splicing tape for many years, having been
introduced to it by a power plant engineer who showed me how they used it
for underground direct-bury high voltage splices. Alternate the 130C with
88, each with an up-down-up wrap, and I've never had a leak.
Tape n' taffy is quite effective, and arguably, requires less skill to apply
(i.e. I don't force tower crews to use 130C/88 if they're
comfortable/trained to do it with taffy), but it's messy if you have to open
up the connection, but that can be partially alleviated by using a courtesy
wrap. But when I'm doing it myself, I use splicing tape and 88. For the
splicing tape I use either 3M 130C or the Plymouth equivalent (can't think
of the number off the top of my head).
I have a few rolls of the self-fusing silicone tapes that Times, Nashua,
Andrew, et al are pushing. It's OK, but I don't see it as being any better
than 130C+88. It's a lot more expensive too. Too early to tell how well it
holds up to UV, but I would imagine it would do OK. Being silicone, other
adhesives (such as vinyl electric tape) don't stick to it well.
--- Jeff WN3A
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of ve7fet
> Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 12:22 AM
> To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Base station coax connector
> weatherproofing recommendations?
>
>
>
> Pulling it back apart isn't an issue with the 130C if you
> apply it sticky side out. Once you slit down through the
> vinyl and 130c with a knife, you can peel it apart to open up
> the splice.
>
> Yeah, its a little work to get it to release from the jacket
> of the cable... but its doing its job keeping the water out.
> It usually releases from the metal connector parts fairly readily.
>
> Lee
>
> --- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:Repeater-Builder%40yahoogroups.com> , "skipp025"
> <skipp...@...> wrote:
> > I lay down a base wrap of decent quality tape before applying
> > the Scotch 130c because I do work for (other) people who very
> > often change their mind. Pulling 130c direct from a connector
> > is a real $#$&%* Having a base layer of tape below the 130c
> > can and will make your "change order" life much happier.
> >
> > s.
> >
>
>
>
>
>
