Author Topic: Desicant inside RG-11  (Read 22493 times)

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Offline miraculon

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Desicant inside RG-11
« on: January 05, 2013, 04:11:17 PM »
I received my RG-11 this week. I am planning on using mine as an "it's raining" indicator. I am going to interface it to a Smarthome "I/O Linc #2450" to trigger an X-10 beeper. I will use the 15 minute delay feature.

I am planning on mounting it on the equipment mast in the spring with a 3/4" aluminum square channel and a U-bolt.

One thing that I noticed was the desiccant. At first I thought that this was just a storage/packaging piece, typical of what you find in a lot of electronic device packaging. However, there is a reference to "... add extra desiccant packets" in the instructions.

Should I leave it in the RG-11 when I install it? How long will it last before it saturates? Where can you get more, since they indicate they are "not supplied"?

Greg H


Blitzortung Stations #706 and #1682
CoCoRaHS: MI-PI-1
CWOP: CW4114 and KE8DAF-13
WU: KMIROGER7
Amateur Radio Callsign: KE8DAF

Offline duke666

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Re: Desicant inside RG-11
« Reply #1 on: January 05, 2013, 05:16:11 PM »
A quick search on EBAY will help you source extra packets.

Offline miraculon

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Re: Desicant inside RG-11
« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2013, 05:22:28 PM »
I received this reply from Hydreon on the desiccant.

The desiccant in the RG-11 is not all that necessary. We thought it might be needed so we had the supplier place them in the units and still continue to do so.

What we have found though is that customers set the RG-11 and do not open it. In our testing we would continually open and close the units, many times while it was raining so water would be trapped. The RG-11 is sealed quite well so water should not make its way into the sensor.

But if you want to replace the desiccant and can't any locally, you can certainly try to reactivate it by drying it out in a oven.


I think that I am just going to treat it as a shipping item and toss it.

Greg H


Blitzortung Stations #706 and #1682
CoCoRaHS: MI-PI-1
CWOP: CW4114 and KE8DAF-13
WU: KMIROGER7
Amateur Radio Callsign: KE8DAF

Offline kmahler

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Re: Desicant inside RG-11
« Reply #3 on: October 22, 2016, 10:20:59 AM »
A good alternative to purchasing new desiccant is to place dry rice in at tea bag or similar container the use that in place of the desiccant.
Kevin Mahler
Skywarn Storm Spotter, AKQ3785
CWOP AV286
73 de KO4JY


 

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