How To Make A Moisture Trap For The TailBeacon/SkyBeacon That Are In A High Moisture Environment

This is how to perform a service loop to help keep moisture out of the tailBeacon 

Note: The service loop may also apply to the skyBeacon.

Tech Tip Tuesday: tailBeacon Service Loop (Video Transcript)

In this instructional video, the instructors detail the incorporation of a service loop when installing the uAvionix tailbeacon ADS-B unit.

Where the wires enter the unit is also the static port, where the tailBeacon gets its BARO from. Because it’s a static port, it breathes—allowing condensation to form inside the bubble. And that is okay, because there is a conformal coating on the components, that protect those components, from moisture.

However, we do not want standing water in the unit. And with the tail draggers that are dragging their tail on a wet runway or users who may be overzealous with a pressure washer, we can fill the tailBeacon with water.

The service loop intention is to allow the unit to breathe, but still allow the wires to be connected to the unit. Now, the nipple on the endo f this unit is exactly the right size to snug up a piece of vinyl tubing (details: tubing used in video is ID [inside diameter] 3/16”, 5/16” OD, 20 ft long, with a working pressure of 55 PSI @ 70 degrees Fahrenheit.) If you select a vinyl tubing with a 3/16” inside diameter, it will fit snugly over the static port nipple on the tailBeacon.

Next, what you will want to do, is cut a 15–18-inch piece of the tubing and feed the wires through the vinyl tubing. You will want to fit the tubing snuggly over the nipple of the tailBeacon—so snug that you will not need to secure it.

We will then want to form a gentle service loop. You will want to the bottom of the loop facing down. Then you will secure it with a zip tie—you may want to use more than one.

For added safety, we will want to make a weep hole on the very bottom of that loop—just make sure that you do not drill through the wires. This weep hole will be a precaution, in the case that water does get in there, it will drip out to the bottom of the hole.

This will allow the air to go through a static port and the wires are in there. So you will officially have the tailBeacon service loop.