[Elecraft] APP Connector Weak Spot

Charles Harpole k4vud at hotmail.com
Wed Apr 2 04:52:46 EST 2008


I say agn, any connector that needs this much care and causes this much discussion abt 

solder or not, glue or not, solder running into the contacts, etc etc, is a sign of a bad

product.  LONG LIVE CINCH JONES, or at least Molex and carve this into the stone:

NEW IS NOT NECESSARILY BETTER.  73
 

Charles Harpole

k4vud at hotmail.com   




> From: ron at cobi.biz
> To: M0XDF at Alphadene.co.uk
> Subject: RE: [Elecraft] APP Connector Weak Spot
> Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:07:02 -0700
> CC: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> 
> Hi David:
> 
> You wrote:
> 
> Yes you can solder the odd ones or twos (ok Ron, yes you solder them  
> all), but I found I was having to be very careful not to let solder  
> run up to the contact part.
> 
> --------------------
> 
> You fixed that with a good crimp tool. For those who solder the terminals
> the way to avoid getting solder on the contact is to hold the wire with the
> contacts upwards. A small vise or just propping the stripped wires up
> against a book or something works that holds the stripped ends steady
> pointing upwards works FB. Set each connector on the stripped wire with the
> contact UP, adjust the position so they are both aligned to slip into the
> shells easily, then apply heat to the metal terminal and feed solder through
> the holes near the terminal end until it flows around the inside and into
> the wire and connector *away* from the contacts. (I included that hint right
> on the instruction sheet.)
> 
> It takes me perhaps 1 minute to attach two terminals to the stripped wires.
> Still, if I were doing a LOT of them I'd probably crimp them (with the
> expensive tool), especially if I were doing most of them "in the field" away
> from the bench. 
> 
> My point in posting to the thread was that it's not *necessary* to use a
> crimp tool nor does Elecraft recommend one do so over soldering. That's why
> the power cable kit assembly instructions say, "Unless you have a
> high-quality crimping tool and experience using it, we strongly recommend
> you solder the terminals."
> 
> Wayne and Eric added a suggested crimp tool to the connector assembly
> instructions for people who did not want to use a soldering iron regardless
> of the expense. Even so, it's important to know how to use the tool
> correctly. 
> 
> Ron 
> 
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