Splicing outside connectors

Splicing outside connectors

Humidity or dust can enter a connector located outside.

When the cable is carying high frequency signal, like satellite or WiFi, the humidity will quickly alterate the strength and quality of the signal.

Splicing is the effective way to properly seal the connector.

1. Make sure that the connector is dry and clean of any dust, connect the cable and tighthen the connector firmly with the hand.
Cut 15 to 20 centimeters of splicing tape.
I use 19 millimeters Scotch 23 Rubber Splicing Tape from 3M. Click on the pictures to enlarge.

2.
Start wrapping the splicing tape around the connector.
Make one or two loops on the connector, to attach the end of the tape.
When wrapping the splicing tape, you must strech it, just bellow the point of breaking: the tape must streched at least twice its length; the way you strech the tape makes the quality of the splicing.
When you strech the tape, it changes colour and becomes greyish.
Keep streching the tape all along the work.

3. Now wrap the connector and the socket at the same time.
The tape is strechable enough to adapt to the difference in diameter.
Make two loops covering the connector and the socket, make sure that the shocket is wrapped firmly and is watertight.

4.
Wrap the connector and continue toward the cable end.
Each loop must overlap the previous one by at least half of the width.
Proper overlapping helps the the watertightness.
Continue streching the tape.

5.
Continue wrapping the same way.
The tape will adapt the difference of diameter at each step.
Overlap each loop by an half.

6. Terminate by wraping the cable itself on a distance of 5 centimeters.
From the socket to the cable, you have created a watertight seal that will prevent rain or dust to enter the connector.

7. Fix the end of the splicing tape with two or three loops of normal electric tape.
You better use good quality electric tape wo it will not peel of at the first rain.

8. After a short period, the loops of splicing tape will bound together and it will not be possible to unwrap the tape.
Use a cutter knife or cutting pliers to cut the splicing tape, but be cautious not to cut the cable underneath.

1.	Make sure that the connector is dry and clean of any dust, connect the cable and tighthen the connector firmly with the hand. Cut 15 to 20 centimeters of splicing tape. I use 19 millimeters Scotch 23 Rubber Splicing Tape from 3M.	Click on the pictures to enlarge.
2.	Start wrapping the splicing tape around the connector. Make one or two loops on the connector, to attach the end of the tape. When wrapping the splicing tape, you must strech it, just bellow the point of breaking: the tape must streched at least twice its length; the way you strech the tape makes the quality of the splicing. When you strech the tape, it changes colour and becomes greyish. Keep streching the tape all along the work.
3.	Now wrap the connector and the socket at the same time. The tape is strechable enough to adapt to the difference in diameter. Make two loops covering the connector and the socket, make sure that the shocket is wrapped firmly and is watertight.
4.	Wrap the connector and continue toward the cable end. Each loop must overlap the previous one by at least half of the width. Proper overlapping helps the the watertightness. Continue streching the tape.
5.	Continue wrapping the same way. The tape will adapt the difference of diameter at each step. Overlap each loop by an half.
6.	Terminate by wraping the cable itself on a distance of 5 centimeters. From the socket to the cable, you have created a watertight seal that will prevent rain or dust to enter the connector.
7.	Fix the end of the splicing tape with two or three loops of normal electric tape. You better use good quality electric tape wo it will not peel of at the first rain.
8.	After a short period, the loops of splicing tape will bound together and it will not be possible to unwrap the tape. Use a cutter knife or cutting pliers to cut the splicing tape, but be cautious not to cut the cable underneath.