Topband: Soldering aluminum coax shield to copper wire

[Tomas vk2ccc]

On 5/31/2020 8:56 PM, Chuck Hutton wrote:
> So what is the easy reliable cheap method to get the job done?

Hi Chuck

I had luck with soldering copper wire to aluminum pipe using nothing more
than:


1) local variety of VEGETABLE oil - you only need a few drops - used what I
found in the kitchen

2) cheap fixed temperature soldering iron - mine was 40W - already head it
in my junk box

3) sand paper - I used what I hand on hand - mine was "120" grit - already
had it in my junk box

4) conventional resin core solder 60/40 - already had it in my junk box

The copper wire jumpers that I have soldered to an aluminum pipe (that was
part of RX loop experiments - LZ1AQ variety of loops) a year and a half
ago, as inspected today looks perfectly "healthy" with no signs of
corrosion etc. so I assume the method has worked.

Before attempting to solder I watched several YouTube videos to see how
others done it.

In the process, I have applied a couple of drops on top of the aluminum
surface and then rubbed it slightly with the sand paper. The surface was
left covered in oil. I have then separately pre-soldered the copper wire
(multi-strand wire in my case) using the 60/40 solder having it sub-merged
in a couple of drops of oil. Then placed the pre-soldered wire to the
aluminum surface that was previously cleaned and still covered in oil.
Applied another drop of oil. Placed the soldering iron on the join, and
pretty much instantaneously removed it.

This method has worked for me; I tried this on different aluminum surfaces
and learned that in my case it was all about careful cleaning sub-merged in
oil, and applying the right level of heat for the right duration of time.

Good luck!

Tomas VK2CCC
_
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Topband: CQ 160 Contest pictures

[Andy Blank]

Greetings 160 Contest enthusiasts.

It's my annual call for any pictures you might have from the 2020 CQ 160
Contest.
Looking for station and people pix, not so much antennas.
Especially looking for some new people who have not been published in CQ
Magazine results before.

Please send directly to me @

andyn...@gmail.com

Thanks/73

Andy N2NT
Director CQ160 Contest
_
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Topband: Hard-Line Connectors

[Dick Bingham]

Hi Jim and All

I presently have four new but unpackaged ===>

https://www.google.com/search?q=%22gp+500+du+connector%22=%22gp+500+du+connector%22=chrome..69i57j33.25553j1j8=chrome=UTF-8

core products - Corning
www.corning.com › selection-guides › CRR-867-AEN



   1.
   


PDF
GRS-500-CH-DU-03-T. Three-piece hardline pin connector fits .500 CommScope
P-3/Times Fiber TX-10. GRS-750-CH-DU-03-T ... Trunk and Distribution Adapter,
90 degree, seizure screw, swivel. GP-90-T. Trunk and Distribution Adapter
, ...
(See above website for pictures) and six similar connectors for the 7/8th's
inch hardline.

I also have several hard-line splices of 1/2 and 7/8th inch H-L that I will
never use.

73  Dick/w7wkr
_
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Re: Topband: Adding connectoirs to CATV Hardline

[Jim Brown]

On 6/2/2020 9:54 AM, Dick Bingham wrote:

I use the regular CATV industry connectors with the LONG center conductor
protruding from the connector and threads that exactly match those of the
PL259 sleeve.


Thanks, Dick. I agree that's a great solution if you can find them.I 
have a few of this type of connector going from the hard line to type F, 
gifted from K6XX, from his vintage parts stash. But I've never seen ones 
you describe for UHF. Do you know a current source?


73, Jim K9YC
_
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Topband: Adding connectoirs to CATV Hardline

[Dick Bingham]

Hi Jim/K9YC

I read your material ===>  http://k9yc.com/Coax-Stubs.pdf
"  Q: How can I attach PL259s to half-inch CATV hard line? BIG SNIP"

I use the regular CATV industry connectors with the LONG center conductor
protruding from the connector and threads that exactly match those of the
PL259 sleeve.
1 - Cut off the unthreaded sleeve portion (without the threads inside) from
a PL259 connector off and screw it on to the CATV connector threads.
2 - Cut off the excess 'length' on the non-crimped end of a Type-N barrel
down to the threads
3 - Cut the length of the protruding CATV-connector center-pin to an
appropriate length to engage the "N-barrel center pin connection when it is
threaded into the modified PL259 sleeve now attached to the CATV connector
4- Tape as required to make a waterproof seal
This makes a very effective connection electrically and mechanically.

73  Dick/w7wkr at CN98pi
_
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Topband: Solereing to Aluminum

[Dick Bingham]

Hello Chuck

Are you using a heavy-duty soldering iron and continuously
"scrubbing-like-hell" the Aluminum surface under the oil with the 'tip' to
break-thru the AL-oxidation layer to allow the solder to whet the Al? I
continuously feed the solder into the region to build-up a solderable
'blob' which can easily be soldered to later.

73  Dick/w7wkr at CN98pi
===
Message: 2
Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2020 03:56:38 +
From: Chuck Hutton 
To: "topband@contesting.com" 
Subject: Topband: Soldering aluminum coax shield to copper wire
Message-ID:
<
mwhpr10mb1486b0cd39c2cba1aecd4adffc...@mwhpr10mb1486.namprd10.prod.outlook.com
>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Many many years ago I had partial success soldering aluminum coax shield to
copper wire using the motor oil technique. I also believe I had some flux
(unknown type) that helped.
But I had no luck with motor oil last week and can not find the flux I had,
which might be a good thing as it is 20 years old.

So what is the easy reliable cheap method to get the job done?

Chuck
_
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Re: Topband: Soldering aluminum coax shield to copper wire

[David G4FTC]

Hi All

Try

https://uk.farnell.com/multicore-loctite/629443/solder-wire-80-18-2-0-91mm-500g/dp/629443?CMP=KNC-GUK-GEN-KWL-MAN-L5Pages-New-Structure-25May2020-LOCTITE=_dc|pcrid|437370420948|=EAIaIQobChMIsZbSq_Hi6QIVCLrtCh3EzwKgEAAYASAAEgIpjvD_BwE#

This is from a UK supplier but they are part of the AVNET group of which Newark 
is/was also one of their companies. Expensive but you may be able to get 
smaller reels

Regards

David G4FTC

From: Topband  on behalf of 
Chuck Hutton 
Sent: 01 June 2020 03:56
To: topband@contesting.com 
Subject: Topband: Soldering aluminum coax shield to copper wire

Many many years ago I had partial success soldering aluminum coax shield to 
copper wire using the motor oil technique. I also believe I had some flux 
(unknown type) that helped.
But I had no luck with motor oil last week and can not find the flux I had, 
which might be a good thing as it is 20 years old.

So what is the easy reliable cheap method to get the job done?

Chuck
_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector