Chuck, 

Thanks for that explanation. That's very interesting. I do use
N-connectors and when I seal them, I wrap them twice, even three times
with coax-seal and then go back over it with electrical tape. I know
that there is no way for water to get in, that's why I was leaning
towards the condensation. In one of the connectors that I found water
in, I cut the tape and the coax seal and noticed everything just outside
the connectors and the cable was dry. When unscrewing the connectors, I
found water droplets inside. Like you, I didn't think condensation was
to blame. So I even went as far as cutting the coax to see if it somehow
water seeped through there, and it was also dry. Do you not think that
with a big temperature change condensation could take place inside the
connector? I can't claim that here in Louisiana we have drastic
temperatures, but we do have the occasional upper 90 degrees day
followed by a sudden thunderstorm.

I will give the electrical grease a try. 

Hector
  

-----Original Message-----
From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chuck Enfield
Sent: Friday, May 16, 2008 10:37 AM
To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU
Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Outdoor wireless and connectors...

I've had good success with Scotch 2228 rubber tape with mastic,
overwrapped in the opposite direction with a good electrical tape.  The
electrical tape is primarily for UV protection since the butyl rubber
sealing tape doesn't hold up well under the light.  It's a good idea to
overwrap the electrical tape with friction tape if abrasion is any
concern at all.

I've never used coax-seal, but I'm familiar with the product.  If you're
tightly compressing the coax-seal to fill up the gaps, then I'm doubtful
that water droplets in your connectors are due to condensation.  In
extreme weather (100f & 100% humidity) the saturation point of water
vapor in air is around 3%.  If there's 2 cm^3 (estimated) of air trapped
in an N-connector, then there's less than .1 cm^3 of water vapor inside.
Condense that vapor and the droplet will be so small that you might not
be able to see it.

If you wanted to be safe, you could fill the connector cavity with
electrical grease prior to mating the connector halves.  I've never done
it, but it should be fine electrically and there wouldn't be any water
vapor to condense.  This may also help if the water inside your
connectors is due to intrusion rather than condensation.

Chuck Enfield
Sr. Communications Engineer
Penn State University
Telecommunications & Networking Services
110 USB2, UP, PA 16802
Ph. (814) 863-8715
Fx. (814) 865-3988

-----Original Message-----
From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Hector J Rios
Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2008 8:35 AM
To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU
Subject: [WIRELESS-LAN] Outdoor wireless and connectors...

For those that are doing outdoor wireless, I'm wondering what you use to
seal your exposed connectors. We use coax-seal but we've had a couple of
issues here and there where we still find water inside the connectors,
most likely due to condensation.

Thanks,

Hector Rios
Louisiana State University

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