[Elecraft] Buryflex all the way to K3?

[Jim Brown]

On Sun, 30 May 2010 15:13:19 -0400, Tom W8JI wrote:

> There is some bad information on Internet 
>about it and some real wild myths,

YES. 

That said, some of the "misinformation and myth" is based on 
the use of cheap, no-name junk connectors sold at hamfests and 
on the internet, often by "respected" ham vendors. 

>When I test connectors here at HF, I actually have to do it 
>thermally with a few kilowatts of power!!! 

Some of these junk connectors will fail the power test. I 
learned that the hard way, having bought a bunch of the 
junkers and put them in my station. One coax elbow overheated 
with 1.5kW in the first hour of contest operation, and failed 
(to the extent tht my Titan amp got very unhappy). It was VERY 
hot, because the internal connection for the center conductor 
was a tiny spring!

My rule, learned the hard way -- stick to first quality, name 
brand connectors. Amphenol isn't cheap, but that's all I buy. 
If I were a mfr with a decent lab (like Tom, or W2VJN) and 
could do serious testing of other products, I might add other 
mfrs to that list.  

73,

Jim Brown K9YC