MI.NET MULTI-NETWORK COLLECTOR
33
Installation and Operation Manual
APPENDIX II: WEATHERPROOFING CONNECTIONS
If mounting the collector outdoors or anywhere moisture may be present, weatherproof the connections for the AMI network
antenna and cellular modem antenna.
To protect signal integrity and general functionality, weatherproofing should be applied to connections subject to water or
moisture. After a connection has been made and tested to verify that it is functioning correctly, use multiple layers to seal it.
Recommended layers: an initial layer of UL-approved electrical tape, another layer of butyl mastic tape, and finally a layer of vinyl
tape, see figure A2-1.
At each connection, begin by wrapping electrical tape to cover the connector and a portion of the cable. Stretch the tape a little
as you wind it around the cable and the connector. As you wrap the tape, cover about half of the previous wrap. Keep the wraps
neat and as smooth as possible.
The second step is to wrap a second layer of butyl mastic tape over the electrical tape, but wrap it at a 90-degree angle to the
first layer. This is a putty-like layer and should be manually squeezed/compressed onto the initial layer to form a tight bonded
assembly.
The last step is to wrap a layer of vinyl tape covering the first two layers.
Any connections subjected to water or humidity should be waterproofed.
NOTE
: When weatherproofing the remote fiberglass antenna, ensure it is mounted upright, and take care NOT to cover the weep
holes that allow moisture to escape from the base of the antenna. Covering the holes will cause the unit to fill with water, and
eventually short out the antenna element.
Figure A2-1: Weatherproof connector sealing
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