Wiring Protection / Conduit

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

Is it worth protecting my UHF antenna cable with some form of conduit? When my driving lights were installed, some split conduit was used, but the wires are small and easy to break. The Antenna cable is far more robust.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[winniliss Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close winniliss]

I would use conduit. You don't want water etc getting inside the coax.

[kyleh Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kyleh]

I wouldnt worry, they are typically pretty heavy duty and not carrying power like driving light wiring is. Just protect anywhere it could rub on a metal edge.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I only have split conduit over mine for the first 300mm or so where it goes in between the body panels, partly for protection and also to make it look as neat as possible. After that its not in conduit, not much chance of it ever rubbing through for the rest of the run back to the UHF and the coax has a pretty robust outer shield anyway.

Cheers Andrew

[NatSX Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close NatSX]

its possibly overkill but I use it on evertything in the engine bay and anywhere I can get to inside the car. doesn't add any substantial time or cost compared to the overall job so can't see any downside.
Nat.

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

As per my build thread: http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...l=1#post451157 I went ahead and grabbed some. I used the full three metres of the split conduit - Just in Case!

[Stu Balls Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Stu Balls]

Hi Spilsy.

Coming from a mining background and working for a company that uses RF components everyday, its really not worth it. RG48 cable is water proof on the outside and as long as your BNC or N type fittings are sound, no water can really enter the coax. To be sure you could wrap the fittings in some Amalgamating tape, this will 100% protect your end fittings. Even after time this will prevent any ingress and ensure no loss is encountered from the fittings.

[Guest Close Guest]

Split conduit looks great in the engine bay. Keeps it looking factory.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Conduit isn't water proof unless you seal it in tape from one end to the other. And, as has already been pointed out, coax is pretty resilient by itself.

[JKAF Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JKAF]

I use split conduit to protect the cable from rubbing against the bull bar or any other panels. But don't bother in areas where where the cable does not touch any other parts. As previously stated, the cable is pretty well insulated, but with all the vibrations, it could wear throughh the outside insulation if it is in contact with a metal surface.

[ttmx83 Member Find all posts View Profile Close ttmx83]

I used split and also wrapped it all in electrical tape on everything exposed to the elements and in the engine bay. I don't bother on most wiring inside the vehicle unless it can be seen or could be damaged. It looks as per factory which was a concern to me and the extra protection doesn't go astray. Overkill on double insulated wiring, but I had left over split.

Cheers Brad.