[NLRS] Accessory plugs for TE amps

[Dr. Gerald N. Johnson]

If they actually are tube sockets, the plugs have been out of production 
a long time. Vector used to have them. There are a few possibilities 
today. Start with a miniature tube and break away the glass leaving just 
the bottom with the pins and cut off the guts of the tube welded to the 
pins. The pins will probably tin and take solder, might need an acid 
flux. A grinder will clean up the sharp edges from breaking the glass 
envelope away. Carborundum paper (wet or dry) used wet will be gentler 
than a grinding wheel.

Take a similar tube socket and solder in 1mm solid brass or copperweld 
wire in each socket pin making a plug. Tube pins are .040" diameter, 
I've used 18 gauge copperweld from 1" spaced open wire transmission line 
for such pins. Or one could drill a bit of plexiglass in the pin 
pattern, or mold around suitable wires as pins stuck into a socket. 
You'd need some sort of film to separate the molding from the socked and 
could be molded of epoxy, polyester resin, hot melt plastic, plexiglass 
or polystyrene dissolved in something like acetone. The solution 
castings may take a long time to cure. Q dope would be another 
possibility for the casting media. Epoxy or polyester resin would be 
easier to use and the polyester casting resin can probably be found in a 
good hobby shop where its used for casting walls of train cars sometimes.

I've seen the tube parts used that way and I've used the wires in the 
tube socket scheme myself. I've not done the others, but I'm sure they 
can work. I used to have the Vector plugs, but I think I used them all 
up. Finding 7 pin miniature tube sockets may take some digging these 
days, try Surplus Sales of Nebraska, Fair Radio, or Dan's Small Parts 
and Kits on line. Nothing says they have to be new sockets to be 
converted into plugs so there could be lots of residual deep in some 
twin cities ham shack "junk" (or resource) boxes.

73, Jerry, K0CQ

On 12/20/2012 4:37 PM, vince pavkovich wrote:
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> I am in need of couple 7 pin male / tube socket type accessory plugs for my TE Systems amplifiers.  These are about 5/8" diameter, with pins at about 3/8" center to center across. I can email picture if you would like.  Email me if you have any, with cost including shipping to 55309.  Or if you know of a source that actually has them in stock.  TE has switched to RJ45 and no longer has any.  Thanks Vince   K0SIX EN35dj Big Lake, MN
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