I agree with Bob, but as 45-years experience has taught me.
Properly crimped bright new copper wire is fine. Take a look several
years later (also compare contact resistance; probably best measured
as voltage drop under load). If you live in the desert where
humidity never rises above 25% you may not see any change. Put the
same crimped connector 100-foot from salt water and less than three
years it will turn green and start to fail. Put on a boat with no
sealant and the connector will fall apart.
Solder the connector after crimping to that bright new copper wire
and those problems will be lessened. ON a boat only airtight sealant
will ensure long life. I find where I want to ensure lowest contact
resistance soldering after crimping works.
But if the wire is subject to repeated movement or vibrational forces
the soldered connection will break whereas crimp-only seems more
resilient. Spacecraft use crimped-only connectors (subject to high
g-force vibration in launch and extreme temperature variations). But
then there is no air in space and thus no moisture to corrode.
For ordinary shack wiring of a ham station crimp+ solder causes no
harm. I use it where ever I want to ensure the lowest voltage drop under load.
Most of those NAPA wire crimpers are a poor excuse for a real tool -
but probably what most of us use. My coax crimpers are properly
racheting crimpers and produce a good contact. Still I do not like
them in situations where the cable sees a lot of movement. Good old
compression back nut construction is best. I'm talking about N, BNC,
TNC, sma, 7/16, etc. PL-259's are used only if I have to.
73, Ed - KL7UW
----------
From: Bob McGraw - K4TAX <rmcg...@blomand.net>
To: Jerry Moore <je...@carolinaheli.com>, elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] normal K3 voltage drop on TX
Message-ID: <55d7d678.80...@blomand.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
Properly it must be crimped A N D soldered. Both are required.
Are you saying a crimped and soldered connection is worse than a crimped
only connection?
My military experience says there first must be a mechanical connection
made {crimp or wrap} and then follow with an electrical connection
{solder}. And RCA stipulated this practice in all of their broadcast
equipment.
73
Bob, K4TAX
K3S s/n 10,163
73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
"Kits made by KL7UW"
Dubus Mag business:
dubus...@gmail.com
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