[Elecraft] TMP connectors

[Drew AF2Z]

NO-OX-ID contact grease is the stuff. Works great for RF and audio 
connectors.

73,
Drew/AF2Z



On 6/8/2025 17:27, Ray Maxfield wrote:
> Hi Jim and GP.
>   I would only use No-Oxide "type grease" on the TMP connectors.
> A very lite coat is all that is needed.
> 
> Ray WA6VAB K3
> 
> ________________________________
> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net <elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net> on behalf of chetsubaccount at snet.net <chetsubaccount at snet.net>
> Sent: Sunday, June 8, 2025 1:11 PM
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
> Cc: jim at rhodesend.net <jim at rhodesend.net>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] TMP connectors
> 
> Hi Jim,
> 
> The last time I re-plugged those connectors after having my K3's sub out, I
> did apply a small amount of dielectric grease to the tip and the shell. Just
> used very little smear (not a glob) on the tip of my finger to touch those
> parts. That also made correct and full insertion easier.
> 
> Contacts use pressure to squoosh their little conductive hills into/onto the
> mating surface. After that, they need protection from atmospheric and
> moisture deterioration. The grease keeps it from reaching those microscopic
> areas as it gets pushed aside all around of where they squoosh.
> 
> I've been using it on outdoor coax connectors for ages, and recenrly on the
> braid of crimp-on connectors before crimping. Never had an issue .
> 
> 73,
> Chet, N8RA
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net <elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On
> Behalf Of Jim Rhodes
> Sent: Friday, June 6, 2025 10:26 PM
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [Elecraft] TMP connectors
> 
> My K3 does not get a lot of use anymore because its spot on the desk has
> been taken by the K4D.  Now the K4 has been at the mothership and the K3 was
> perking along just fine and then went silent suddenly.  No receive, no
> transmit.  I opened it up and poked around a bit the next day with the top
> cover off and all of a sudden the receive started crackling and transmit was
> fine.  Buttoned it back up and it worked fine during off and on use for a
> few days, then it went quiet again after an all day stretch.  So I popped
> the top and twisted all of the TMP connectors that I could reach, powered it
> up and it has been working fine again.
> My question to the group is: Has anyone ever gone to the trouble of treating
> all of those pesky little connectors with some kind of dialectric grease to
> keep them from this kind of behavior?  By the time you add the second
> receiver and the 2 meter board there gets to be a lot of the little buggers
> in there and most of them are hard to get at.  Seems like it might be a good
> project to try now that the K4 is on its way home again.
> 
> Jim K0XU
> jim at rhodesend.net
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