Got my free dish 500 upgrade,should connections be wrapped in electtrical tape?

[rj]

It's good to have the dp working right. I also upgraded to the AT 150 package and think it's worth it. For those who've done it, should all the connections used to switch to the 500 dish be sealed and taped for bad weather, like winter? Thanks for any help.

[Steve Mehs]

It wouldn't hurt to wrap a layer or two of electrical tape around the connectors, helps to keep the moisture out.

[Bill R]

I would not use electrical tape. They make a product specifically for outside connections and it is sold under various names. Radio Shack sells it under the name "Sealing tape for outside connections", item # 278-1645, $2.99.

[Frapp]

Better yet, get a small tube of clear silicone sealant and "smear" it all around the connections. Also, we use to shoot a small amount in the pre-drilled holes for the dish mount itself to insure a good seal. I also do all of my personal dishes this way. Don`t worry if you have to remove the connector at a later date, you can easily do this and simply reseal the connector one you replace it.

Lastly, if you must drill a hole through the roof itself to get the cable(s) to the dish, put a generous amount all around the hole for a sure seal there also :)

Out of the hundreds we installed, I never knew of a customer to this day with a leak problem :righton:

[Jacob S]

The clear silicone is highly recommended. There is also this grease stuff that never actually hardens/dries that works really well. Also to make sure you are really sealed you can put silicon on then tape around that. I know people that have used tape and/or tape on sw-21 switches (the ones that were not waterproof like Dish said) and it still went bad.

[Bill D]

Even better before you or installer puts the connectors on purchase RG-6 rubber boots that slide over the cable, it hugs the cable and widens near the top to slide over the connector, also put some silicone around the connector before sliding the boot over it, (not the silicone for your bathroom) Radio Shack makes a kind that doesn't dry.

[Jacob S]

thats another good option. The best option is to not have the switches outdoors but indoors instead by running more wires from the dish to a dry place then put the switch there. Never any problems doing that. Could be a mess for multiple receivers or dual tuner receivers.

[Bob Haller]

I use the clear silicone. Be careful with that non hardening grease that goes in the coinnector. Some years ago that caused trouble for people in areas that temperatiure fell below freezing. It appeared to somehow become conductive.

What worse time to be servicing connectors at 10 below zero.

[Martyva]

The tape mentioned by Bill works extremely well and is much easier to remove if you need to get to the connectors.

[Neil Derryberry]

Or, you could use nothing. My switches have always been inside the house, and I've never done anything to the connector on the lnb... no trouble at all. My Mother's dish has been working for 3 years straight, no tape.

[Jacob S]

That is the best way, just having it inside but it requires those extra wires all the way to the switch.

I had been told that its bad to have any type of silicone inside the connector.

[rj]

Should I cover the switch with silicone and wrap tape around it? I live in ny, so weather goes from very hot to below zero. Thanks

[TomCat]

It also depend upon your environment. Silicone and boots (especially the shrink-boots) will definitely help, though, in any environment. GIlbert makes the best fittings, and some even have rubber O-ring inserts, which are also very helpful. If you are in a corrosive environment such as salt air, these kinds of precautions are almost a necessity.

[waydwolf]

    Actually, boots and tape will if anything speed corrosion as neither are remotely gas tight and water in vapor form in the atmosphere will get in, condense on the metal as temperatures lower, and in larger droplet form have enough surface tension to not flow out readily but rather sit until evaporation.

    Compression fittings such as Gilbert Ultraseal or Thomas & Betts Snap n Seal *without* boots is better.