Scott wrote:

Composite would be fine. Mouser has them in , I think, 8 X 10 X 4 which
would work, but they're somewhere around 60 dollars. I'm a cheap
b@st@rd. $30 is about max I want to go for a beacon box...I'll scout
around some more....thanks for the tip.

Scott
N0EDV

Dr. Anton T. Squeegee wrote:

In article ,
says...


I'm looking for a NEMA type 4 box or equivalent. New one are a bit
pricey. It must be weather proof. Small holes OK, since I could weld
pathes on to keep it watertight. It will be for my 432 beacon and will
be mounted up on a tower (up to 200 feet above ground). Prefer metal.
Size needed would be about 12" X 12" X 6" or so...


Pricey? Not the smaller ones. I've got a pair of 12x12x6's in my
van that ran about $30 or so.

No, they're not metal... They're a sort of plastic-fiberglass
composite. However, installing a copper 'Faraday cage' internally would
be a simple matter of cutting and bolting in some copper sheets. They
do, however, meet the full NEMA-4X specifications for water resistance
and other environmental nastiness.

If you decide to pursue such, Platt Electric Supply (nationwide
chain) has them.

Happy hunting.




Have you got a decent scrapyard or recycling center? The local
scrapyard has a bunch of used NEMA boxes but the shipping would be high
from here. I've seen stainless and painted steel in several sizes. The
only small metal NEMA box I have right now is*" * 10" and 4" deep The
next one is a lot larger than what you are looking for.

--
Former professional electron wrangler.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

"Scott" wrote in message
...
I'm looking for a NEMA type 4 box or equivalent. New one are a bit
pricey. It must be weather proof. Small holes OK, since I could weld
pathes on to keep it watertight. It will be for my 432 beacon and will be
mounted up on a tower (up to 200 feet above ground). Prefer metal. Size
needed would be about 12" X 12" X 6" or so...

Thanks,

Scott
N0EDV

Scott -

IF 6 x 6 x 3-1/2 would work .. these 4 are NICE !
eBay Item number: 7505307103
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...53071 03&rd=1
w9gb

I don't have any real experience with keeping a weathertight box outside
for an extended period, though. It would be good to get some opinions
and advice from people who do.
===================================
Some time ago I was given an enclosure for an outdoor surveillance TV camera
which had a suitable heater (50 Watts resistor) switched by a bi-metallic
temperature switch. A homebrew solution would be an opamp circuit with 2
diode type temperature sensors,measuring in-and outside temperature
,maintaining an inside temperature approx 2degr C higher than the outside
temp.
This would be adequate to prevent condensation .
Seems a bit overdone at a first glance ,but would ensure protection of
valuable RF equipment.

Perhaps someone involved with Mobile Phone Cell Systems outdoor equipment
would care to comment.

Frank GM0CSZ / KN6WH