[stevieboy123]

Is it possible to spray paint a dish without affecting it's performance?

[Rick1]

Yes, use matt car paint. Definatley nothing metallic, or flecked. Red Oxide primer is good for "Brick" colour.

[MartinPickering]

Red oxide (iron oxide) should not be sprayed over the LNB cap, for obvious reasons. Elsewhere, it should be OK.

In countries that get a lot of sun, matt grey is optimal. Black causes the dish to heat up and it may distort. White causes the dish to reflect more heat onto the LNB cap.

[stevieboy123]

Originally Posted by MartinPickering

Red oxide (iron oxide) should not be sprayed over the LNB cap, for obvious reasons. Elsewhere, it should be OK.

In countries that get a lot of sun, matt grey is optimal. Black causes the dish to heat up and it may distort. White causes the dish to reflect more heat onto the LNB cap.

What are the effects of heat on the LNB Cap?

[MartinPickering]

Infra-red radiation from the sun, focussed on the plastic LNB cap at certain times of year (notably March and October) can melt it. This may not in itself be catastrophic but it can let in rain, dust and spiders.

[stevieboy123]

Originally Posted by MartinPickering

Infra-red radiation from the sun, focussed on the plastic LNB cap at certain times of year (notably March and October) can melt it. This may not in itself be catastrophic but it can let in rain, dust and spiders.

Oooo, bugger!!!!!!

And that would happen in the UK would it?............<reaches for spray can>

[MartinPickering]

I can't imagine it ever happening in the UK. The dish elevation is generally lower, so the IR has to pass through more atmosphere than in, say, southern Spain. Forum member "Billnot" probably has more experience of this but I'd guess you'd need a 2m+ diameter dish.

[stevieboy123]

The dish is for installation on a very nice barn conversion in the UK, barn painted white so did not want standard grey dish colour.

[MartinPickering]

No problem in the UK.

[stevieboy123]

Well the dish got painted and worked perfectly, ans so there is a sympathetic installation of a dish on a barn. The client was so impressed he gave me £20 for a drink......hic

[MartinPickering]

I tell the students on my "Digital Installer Course" to offer to paint the dish. It's often an easy way to earn pocket money without even asking for it. (I painted my own minidish white.)


YouTube - Aligning satellite dish