[Elecraft] OT: Installing PL-259's

[Mark]

The advantage of k3lr's method is that the quality of the soldering of the braid is easy to
inspect.  I used the tinned braid tubing cutter method many times but still managed to put
a connector on that I filled the holes with solder and not connecting to the braid. (It still
worked for a couple of years like that BTW).  It looked good.  

Mark. N2QT

> On Nov 12, 2013, at 2:06 AM, Vic K2VCO <k2vco.vic at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Well, K3LR does a lot better in contests than I do, but I wouldn't do it this way. I would tin the braid and cut it with a tubing cutter, then solder through the holes like K0PP suggested. I have never had a problem with one done like this.
> 
> 
>> On 11/11/2013 10:23 PM, Frank Precissi wrote:
>> Glad this topic came up, because im about to redo all my pre-made cables
>> and its one of those topics that people like me are afraid to ask because
>> they are sorta newbie-ish (cue the "You should have learned this before you
>> got your ticket" grumps).
>> 
>> What is your opinion of this method:
>> 
>> http://www.k3lr.com/engineering/pl259/
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> On Mon, Nov 11, 2013 at 9:45 PM, Vic K2VCO <k2vco.vic at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> I too use a 100W iron. In my opinion the heat capacity of a large tip is
>>> more important than the wattage. I prefer irons to guns for this job.
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> On 11/11/2013 8:35 PM, ac5p at sbcglobal.net wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> What is "U-shaped area in the connector body"?   I see replies with guys
>>>> using 200-300W irons!
>>>> Not seen that high of wattage with tip small enough to fit into slot of
>>>> body with holes in it?
>>>> My 100 watt (1/4" tapered flat tip) iron seems to work well there.   We
>>>> had a demo at ham club meeting a couple of years
>>>> ago.  Guy brought a micro-ohm meter (Kelvin bridge) and  compared
>>>> resistance of soldered vs. crimped UHF connectors.
>>>> He used 100W iron like mine.  Guess which type  had the lower resistance?
>>>> 73, Mike
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> ________________________________
>>>>   From: Ken G Kopp <kengkopp at gmail.com>
>>>> To: "elecraft at mailman.qth.net" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
>>>> Sent: Monday, November 11, 2013 9:25 PM
>>>> Subject: [Elecraft] OT: Installing PL-259's
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> I've given hundreds of talks over the years on this subject as
>>>> part of an over-all talk on wire antennas....
>>>> 
>>>> Here's suggestions ...
>>>> 
>>>> Use --only-- silver-plated connectors with silver-plated shells.
>>>> 
>>>> Tin the braid and then treat it as if it was a piece of tubing and
>>>> cut it to length with a small tubing cutter.  Leave about a 1/16"
>>>> portion of the center dielectric protruding from the braid when
>>>> the dielectric is removed from the center conductor. There's
>>>> a recess in the center pin's insulation to accept this protrusion.
>>>> 
>>>> Use a taper reamer to enlarge the four solder holes in the body
>>>> of the connector as much as possible.  The holes will then be
>>>> the diameter of the U-shaped area in the connector body, making
>>>> soldering iron contact with the previously tinned braid much easier.
>>>> 
>>>> This is a good place to remember to put the shell of the connector
>>>> on the coax ... in the correct direction. (;-)
>>>> 
>>>> The threads inside the connector are for screwing the connector
>>>> onto the outer jacket of the cable and ---not--- for screwing reducers
>>>> for RG-58 or RG-59 into the connector.  That's an incidental came-
>>>> later feature.  Note that the threads inside the connector are "square"
>>>> to prevent cutting into the outer jacket of the cable.  Hint:  A tiny
>>>> touch
>>>> of silicone grease on the outside of the jacket will help ... the ribbed
>>>> front portion of the connector is for finger gripping ... or perhaps a
>>>> small assist with slip-joint pliers.
>>>> 
>>>> There is a correct way to handle RG-58 and RG-59 reducers and
>>>> solder them correctly.
>>>> 
>>>> 73!
>>>> 
>>>> Ken Kopp - K0PP
>>>> kengkopp at gmail.com
>>> 
>>> --
>>> Vic, K2VCO
>>> Fresno CA
>>> http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
>>> 
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> 
> -- 
> Vic, K2VCO
> Fresno CA
> http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
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