I'm running a Talking House-type AM transmittter with a wire antenna. It's currently inside my house, on my top floor. I'm getting pretty good performance out of it but I think I could get better if it was outside. I could put it on my deck- I have an electrical outlet out there.
Is there any thing I could use to protect the transmitter from the elements? It would need to be water tight, but that would also make it air tight which, I'm sure, would be a problem in the summer heat. And of course, it would be outside in the dead of winter. What could I use to satisfy all those conditions?
Also, what would I need to make the plug water safe?
To protect the output transistors when in summer I would suggest using the largest heat sink that would be pratical. Besides that if the transistors normally get really warm it's probably a poorly designed transmitter in the first place since a few 100mw of power isn't really hard to produce.
If you want to go really cheap maybe get a plastic storage box and glue the lid on air tight.
Your plug? You mean the wall outlet plug? If so I wouldn't worry about it much. I have stuff plugged in outside when it rains and never hurt anything. Any wires that run out of your enclosure can be sealed using caulk.
>If you want to go really cheap maybe get a plastic storage box >and glue the lid on air tight. > Ya I was thinking of a plastic storage box.
While it's here in the house the transmitter doesn't get very warm (and I broadcast 24-hours). I'm concerned about it being in an enclosed box in the summer. If I set it on my deck (the only place I could set it) the deck gets full sun and can be quite hot.
If I tried the storage box, do you think I should get one quite a bit bigger than the unit itself (in order to give it some breathing room), or would that not be necessary?
>Your plug? You mean the wall outlet plug? If so I wouldn't worry >about it much. I have stuff plugged in outside when it rains and >never hurt anything.
Ya, I am worried about rain collecting around the plug and outlet. I always thought I needed some sort of plug that would be outdoor safe. So I don't need that, huh? Any wires that run out of your enclosure can be sealed using caulk.[/quote]
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