Here's what I know about it:
http://nepp.nasa.gov/WHISKER/index.html
What I'd originally heard was that tin whiskers grew from non-lead
containing solder. But this appears to not be the typical case, so my
indictment of non-lead containing solder might be premature.
According to the NASA site, the tin whiskers grow from surfaces for
which tin is the final finish. That doesn't sound like soldered
surfaces, and in a photomicrograph, they show that the whiskers
didn't grow from a dipped solder surface.
Kim Elmore N5OP
At 05:01 PM 12/21/2008, Bill Aycock wrote:
>Kim (and any others)--
>
>I make assemblies of copper that are normally used in the hand, and I have
>used lead-free (Tin-Silver Plumbing solder) for assembly. I use both Torch
>and Irons to make the joints. I have had no problems in several years.
>
>As it happens, my supply of solder in the shack is all Lead-Tin, and in the
>studio it's all Silver-Tin. It was not planned that way-- it just happened.
>The fluxes are different, but otherwise I see little difference in
>application or use. The only connecter failure I have had recently was
>caused by a faulty (mine) joint in a lead solder braid-to-body junction in
>a tower top RG213 link. It was hell to find because it was intermittent.
>
>With all the comments I have read about problems, I have some questions.
>Many of the comments seem to be "anecdotal" at best, and I would like to
>get some facts that can be checked, or traced to sources or Specs. Hams are
>notorious for jumping from single instance examples to universal truths. I
>know--I was first licensed in 1952.
>
>Does anyone have data or knowledge of the causes of problems with the
>Tin-Silver (lead free) solder, particularly in outdoor, Ham use?
>
>Thanks- Bill-W4BSG
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Kim Elmore" <cw_de_n5op@sbcglobal.net>
>To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
>Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2008 11:44 AM
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] PL-239 Going Open?
>
>
> >I truly appreciate all the responses!
> >
> > The 9913 is not wet inside -- I checked this the first time it
> > happened and it was dry behind the connector that I cut off. I won't
> > get any water ingress into my shack because my run is not continuous
> > and because all the 9913 connectors up on the tower are shielded from
> > the rain. This is good because digging up the 9913 is simply not an
> > option -- that would cost many thousands of dollars because we'd have
> > to go through the driveway and wrap-around porch. OUCH!
> >
> > I've had 90 deg elbows fail before (non-Amphenol) but all my barrel
> > connectors are Amphenol. I also tested them when each failure
> > occurred and each time and they tested fine.
> >
> > I used good, old-fashioned Kester rosin core Sn/Pb solder, of which I
> > should have enough to last the rest of my life. I'll avoid lead-free
> > solder to my ;ast breath!
> >
> > I know that PL-259s aren't waterproof, but decided to not wrap them
> > having read that more often than not water gets in anyway and gets
> > trapped, never able to evaporate. But, I'll freely admit that this
> > might be misguided. I have a fair supply of Scotch 33+ tape and, as
> > soon as it warms up (it's 16 deg F as I type), I'll wrap all the
> > connections.
> >
> > Finally, I didn't positively determine if the failure was in the
> > braid connection or the center pin connection in the most recent
> > case. The prior failure was about a year ago and, in that instance I
> > cut off the connector and found that it was the center pin connection
> > that failed, even though I could not move the wire in the connector.
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > Kim Elmore N5OP
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > TowerTalk mailing list
> > TowerTalk@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> >
>
>
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