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[KK6RPX]

Howdy Folks,

I have been running a Little Tarheel II in my camper van and it really works great. Now that I know it is my permanent solution I am looking to set it up so that the antenna cable doesn't run through the back door. One of these days it is going to get damaged. So I am looking for a four pin waterproof bulkhead connector with a matching plug. ON Amazon I see some that *look* like what I want but you can bet they are cheap pieces of you know what. Looking at Digikey they have an endless selection. Anyone know of one good for this application?

Thanks!

[WB6BYU]

Get one designed for the brake lights on a trailer.

Common in many automotive parts stores.

[KK6RPX]

Get one designed for the brake lights on a trailer.

Common in many automotive parts stores.

Hmm, interesting idea. You mean like the flat four type of connector? While I think I'd rather a bulkhead type fitting that would work. I might even have on kicking around.

[WB6BYU]

Doesn't really matter what kind it is.

They are designed to be weatherproof and rugged, which probably
are the main considerations in your application.

If it has enough contacts you can run your coax through it as well,
so you only have one plug for the antenna.

[N2AYM]

Doesn't really matter what kind it is.

They are designed to be weatherproof and rugged, which probably
are the main considerations in your application.

If it has enough contacts you can run your coax through it as well,
so you only have one plug for the antenna.

These look interesting and may be what you are looking for.

https://www.amphenol-industrial.com/amphe-armor

[KK6RPX]

Doesn't really matter what kind it is.

They are designed to be weatherproof and rugged, which probably
are the main considerations in your application.

If it has enough contacts you can run your coax through it as well,
so you only have one plug for the antenna.

These look interesting and may be what you are looking for.

https://www.amphenol-industrial.com/amphe-armor

Very close. I was hoping to avoid a pigtail with a bulkhead connector. Thanks!

[K0UA]

On my little 4 pin original connector, I filled it full of silicone grease, plugged it back to together and let the grease ooze out and cover all metallic connections. You could put a little scotch 33 black tape over it to retard UV light degradation of the white plastic.

[K5LXP]

Kinda like this?



Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM

[WB6BYU]

Or like this:

[KL7CW]

I often use connectors from the local auto parts store for my various home antennas on towers, poles, etc.  Never had one fail and the price is right.  Some of the connectors similar to the one Mark suggested, especially with many pins, can be hard to connect and disconnect, especially in Alaska when it is very cold.  A little trimming of some of the "rubber" with an exacto knife makes them easier to use.  Probably even more selections at a good trailer supply dealer.  For non critical HF probably could even run RF through a pin for a SHORT distance, especially if there were grounded pins on each side of that pin, but I have never tried that myself.  I live in a dry cold climate far away from the seacoast, so no personal experience around a humid, warm, salt water areas.  I have used these connectors on horse trailers for a few years in Alaska where road salt can be nasty, but never any failures, possibly it was just luck. These auto connectors also are handy in the shack.  For example I use one on my 24 volt shack supply, so no danger in plugging that supply into my other 12 volt "stuff" which uses Anderson power poles.  Cheers,  Rick  KL7CW

[AI5DH]

Would this work?