Can E-field antenna be casted in resin?

[OH4GRM]

I wonder if E-field antenna could be casted in resin to make it more weatherproof. Would casting detoriate the performance? I have thought to put the antenna inside a plastic pipe tube and then fill it with resin to seal it from rain and weather.

Comments appreciated,

OH4GRM

[kevinmcc]

Basically potting the antenna. Potting should be fine since we are looking for very low frequencies.

May want to look for resins that are designed for that purpose.

[dupreezd]

I wonder if E-field antenna could be casted in resin to make it more weatherproof. Would casting detoriate the performance? I have thought to put the antenna inside a plastic pipe tube and then fill it with resin to seal it from rain and weather.

Comments appreciated,

OH4GRM

This is what I did for my E-Probe. I installed a dummy 2" vent with a cap near the top of the rood. It sticks out about 12" above the roof line
   

From inside the attic.
   

I mounted the amplifier to a shortened 3/4" cap, put the coax inside the 3/4" pipe, screwed the end to the amplifier and place the cap on the pipe. The pipe is just long enough, so the probe wire does not touch the outside cap.

  E-Connected.jpg (Size: 24.85 KB / Downloads: 113)

I now place the 3/4" pipe inside the 2" and it rests on a screw at the bottom. (see picture 2)

This keeps it safe, dry and easily reachable. No going up and down the roof.

[dupreezd]

I forgot to mention, instead of using epoxy which is sort of permanent, you can use conformal coating. You get it in both brush on and spray.
For such a small board, I would use brush on. It will allow you much better control and keep it off the screw connectors.