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Re: [Amps] Cool Amp Silver Plating

To: amps@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Amps] Cool Amp Silver Plating
From: tlthompson <tlthompson@qwest.net>
Date: Sat, 01 Mar 2014 09:29:59 -0700
List-post: <amps@contesting.com">mailto:amps@contesting.com>
Whereas the discussion on silver plating is very interesting, one wonders if silver plating is really necessary in view of the experiments done by Larry, W0QE.

http://www.w0qe.com/Technical_Topics/inductor_Q_tests.html

Tom   W0IVJ

On 3/1/2014 8:09 AM, Jim Thomson wrote:
Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2014 17:37:48 +0100
From: peter chadwick <g8on@fsmail.net>
To: MU 4CX250B <4cx250b@miamioh.edu>, Fuqua  Bill L <wlfuqu00@uky.edu>
Cc: "amps@contesting.com" <amps@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] Cool Amp Silver Plating

##  The stuff works superb.     I use vinal gloves or latex gloves.....like the 
throw away types.    You would be amazed at how the stuff works on relay 
contacts etc.   I have had several brand NEW  30-50 A DPDT relays..like 
deltrol,  P+B  etc, that have int contacts on one or both poles.      Also same 
issue with DPST  and also SPST  relays.      If these types are relays are used 
for RF switching... what usually happens is you lose all RX.   After the usual 
careful cleaning... I applied cool-amp  to the contacts..all of em....and no 
more int RX.      b4... with a fluke dvm, I would see typ 3-80 ohms.   And 0.0 
ohms after the cool-amp glop applied.   They also make another product, called 
conducto lube..which is pure silver powder in grease.  Its used on sliding 
contacts and also relay contacts.   I have not tried it...yet.

##  I also use it on all cu tubing tank coils on my hb amps.     I also use it on all 
cu straps...like used on vac caps...and tank coil taps to bandswitch, etc, etc.     I 
hate the look of plane jane copper.   The finish on this cool amp stuff is 
superb...much better than real silver plating.  last forever....and doesn’t 
turn black.

## Trick is to clean the cu 1st.     I use JETS or SOS cleaning pads...... like the 
wife uses for  cleaning pots and pans.     Sorta looks like steel wool embedded with 
blue powder cleaning glop.   AFTER you cut the cu strap to length  and punch holes in 
it, etc, then form it to say the tank coil to bandswitch etc.... then remove it...and 
apply the cool-amp goop.    Forget rubbing it on with a cloth.    Use all 10 fingers 
and use latex or vinal  gloves  to apply the goop.  When every square inch is  
covered... then rinse the piece in warm water..then let sit on some paper toweling.... 
 and use more toweling to gently daub it to remove any excess water.   DON’T 
SCRUB IT to get water off.

##  The usual deal is to silver plate a whole mess of coils and straps 
etc.....all in one shot.
##  Plane CU looks awful imo.    It will discolour and even look worse down the road.  
      The cool-amp powder has an indefinite shelf life.     When u make a paste with 
it..... make the paste in a little tiny container.   You don’t want it too 
thin..u want it thick.

Jim  VE7RF


Whether it's worthwhile electrically depends on the frequency. At 144MHz, the 
skin depth is 0.2 mil (0.0002 inch) and you need about 5 skin depths to keep 
99% of the current in the silver, or about 1 mil i.e. 0.001 inch. At 1.8 MHz, 
you need about 0.009 inches for 5 skin depths....

But it looks a lot nicer than oxidized copper.

73

Peter G3RZP




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