SWM8 Outdoor Enclosure?

1649 Views 15 Replies 10 Participants Last post by kruegs, Sep 29, 2008

thestaton

Discussion Starter · Sep 27, 2008

Just curious if you all could recommend a nice outdoor enclosure for the SWM8. Right now I'm using a TWC enclosure but it's not big enough for all the cables, or wide enough for the SWM.

Thanks for the help,

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joe diamond

· #2 · Sep 27, 2008

thestaton said:
Just curious if you all could recommend a nice outdoor enclosure for the SWM8. Right now I'm using a TWC enclosure but it's not big enough for all the cables, or wide enough for the SWM.

Thanks for the help,

They are everywhere,

Commercial electric supply stores & antenna companies in your area are sources.

Try relocating the switch indoors.

The other idea I have seen is a plastic tool box......Screw the bottom to the wall or pole so it is vertical....vent the new bottom so water can drain....run cables in from below. The door will give access and is watertight enough and varmit proof.

Even plastic refrigerator boxes will work but the UV issue will break them down.

You don't want a complete seal that will trap moisture...just deflect running water and snow. Use sponge to keep bugs from making nests.

Joe

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Grentz

· #3 · Sep 27, 2008

Be careful enclosing the SWM8. Others have reported heat issues as the SWM8 is meant to be mounted without any enclosure and is air cooled.

In reality you do not need an enclosure at all as the SWM8 is fully weatherized. If you do still want an enclosure, make sure to make plenty of vent holes.

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curt8403

· #4 · Sep 27, 2008

Grentz said:
Be careful enclosing the SWM8. Others have reported heat issues as the SWM8 is meant to be mounted without any enclosure and is air cooled.

In reality you do not need an enclosure at all as the SWM8 is fully weatherized. If you do still want an enclosure, make sure to make plenty of vent holes.

+1 on that. vent holes are critical

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kruegs

· #5 · Sep 27, 2008

I agree with what the others have said. I am one of the guys who has an enclosure, which (at first) was too "air tight" and the SWM created an awful lot of heat. Here is a before pic: http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/6810/swm002sd6.jpg The box is actually my old cable box that was already on the house.

I do not have an "After" pic, but if anyone is interested I can snap a few and post them.

I ended up making vent holes on the left and right sides, and all along the bottom. Then I cut the front "face" of the box off and put some wire mesh and window screening on it to keep the critters out.

SWM is nice and cozy now in the box and gets plenty of air. My main reason for using the box was to keep it out of sight and my system had all of my home runs already in that box, so I didn't want to dork around with creating new cables and splicing etc.

Best of luck!

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firefighter4evr

· #6 · Sep 28, 2008

kruegs said:
I agree with what the others have said. I am one of the guys who has an enclosure, which (at first) was too "air tight" and the SWM created an awful lot of heat. Here is a before pic: http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/6810/swm002sd6.jpg The box is actually my old cable box that was already on the house.

I do not have an "After" pic, but if anyone is interested I can snap a few and post them.

I ended up making vent holes on the left and right sides, and all along the bottom. Then I cut the front "face" of the box off and put some wire mesh and window screening on it to keep the critters out.

SWM is nice and cozy now in the box and gets plenty of air. My main reason for using the box was to keep it out of sight and my system had all of my home runs already in that box, so I didn't want to dork around with creating new cables and splicing etc.

Best of luck!

If its not to much trouble, im curious to see what it looks like afterwards

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houskamp

· #7 · Sep 28, 2008

If you are running all SWM capable recievers, look into the SWMline LNB.. Sure cleans up the cables

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kruegs

· #8 · Sep 28, 2008

Will do... I will snap a few tomorrow and post them.

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premio

· #9 · Sep 28, 2008

curt8403 said:
+1 on that. vent holes are critical

I'm glad you talked me out of the enclosure. Just turning the unit on for the first time I am very surprised by the amount of heat this thing outputs.

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Cmnore

· #10 · Sep 28, 2008

Really? My previous MultiSW, a STEREN 5x8 Sky Switcher used to get so ot you almost couldn't hold your hand to it. The SWM isn't that bad.

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br408408

· #11 · Sep 28, 2008

My SWM-8 runs warm, but not hot. You can hold your hand on it for as long as you want.

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kruegs

· #12 · Sep 28, 2008

As promised, here is a link to my "modded" box. http://img516.imageshack.us/my.php?image=swmenclosure001pq4.jpg You can see the vent holes on the right of the box and what I did in the front. There are vent holes on the left and bottom as well.

Cheers!

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kruegs

· #13 · Sep 28, 2008

Here is one more... straight on. You can see the SWM module behind the front screen material: http://img516.imageshack.us/my.php?image=swmenclosure002ux3.jpg

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firefighter4evr

· #14 · Sep 29, 2008

kruegs said:
Here is one more... straight on. You can see the SWM module behind the front screen material: http://img516.imageshack.us/my.php?image=swmenclosure002ux3.jpg

WOW.... thats pretty cool... if i had not known that you where gonna put vent holes in it i would have thought you bought it that way

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Grentz

· #15 · Sep 29, 2008

Looking good kruegs

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kruegs

· #16 · Sep 29, 2008

firefighter4evr said:
WOW.... thats pretty cool... if i had not known that you where gonna put vent holes in it i would have thought you bought it that way

Yep, I spent way too much time and effort, but I am pleased with the way it came out. My wife just rolled her eyes while I was working on it. :nono:

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