[ARC5] [Milsurplus] Millen HV Connector Strain Relief

[Mike Feher]

Just a word of caution from experience. Back around 1970 I had a KW amp with a separate PS. I believe it used a pair of 4-400s. In order to go from class C to linear, the drive had to be changed from one connector to another and they were SO-239s on the amp. They were spaced about one inch from the Millen HV connector. So, one morning before work, I decided to go from one mode to the other, without switching off the HV. Done it before several times with no problem. I unscrewed the PL-259 that was 2 inches from the HV connector and as I was putting it on the SO-239 one inch away from the HV, one of my fingers holding on to the PL-259 touched the Millen HV connector. The whole connector literally blew up. Thankfully my other hand was not touching anything. So, there is smoke and a lot of strong smell of burnt flesh. I was knocked on my ass. As I managed to get up and walk around in a daze holding up my hand still smoking, my wife at the time comes into the radio room and asked if I got a shock. A couple of weeks later I was working on a low voltage solid state PS and something fell on the large filter cap that sounded like a gun going off. I almost had a heart attack and looked behind me to see if the HV supply was still on the floor or came after me, HI. True story. Be careful. 73 – Mike 

 

Mike B. Feher, N4FS

89 Arnold Blvd.

Howell NJ 07731

908-902-3831

 

From: milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net <milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Mark K3MSB
Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2024 12:44 PM
To: Military Radio Collectors Association (mrca at mailman.qth.net) <mrca at mailman.qth.net>; List Milsurplus <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>; ARC5 <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [Milsurplus] Millen HV Connector Strain Relief

 

I am running cables for the 2KV and 500V TBW Power Supplies and I was looking for a way to provide a strain relief for a Millen HV connector with parts on hand.

I found using the soft outer plastic shell from an old microphone connector works great. The electrical tape securely holds the shell to the HV connector while allowing the shell / connector to rotate freely around the HV cable.

 



73 Mark K3MSB



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