The Detuning Network Box
Maintaining the Detuning Equipment on a tower is a necessity to ensure AM Compliance with the FCC Rules Part 1.30002-30005. Frequent climbs on a detuned tower can expose the equipment to damage. Evidently a climber used this Detuning Box as a “step” to climb the tower and the fiberglass box broke from its mounting flange.
Damage such as this requires the replacement or repair of the Detuning Network Box. A retuning of this equipment is also required after repairs. This can be an expensive problem. I suggest choosing a safer location for the Detuning Network Box a few feet away from the tower rather than mounting to the tower itself.
This Detuning Network Box suffered major damage of unknown cause. Ceramic insulators that support components were damaged. At the bottom of the box a layer of water collected and the Coil sat in it and shorted out. This damage created problems with the local AM stations signal.
Mixing Copper with Aluminum is a disaster waiting to happen. The two metals react and begin the oxidization of the aluminum. In this picture the white powder at the left side of the mounting bracket is the oxidized aluminum breaking down. In time the aluminum bracket will dissolve, at that location, and possibly become un-attached to the cabinet. Properly treated, anodized aluminum, works better with copper and slows down the oxidization process.
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