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Re: [TowerTalk] Balun for Force 12 6 Element 20 Meter

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Balun for Force 12 6 Element 20 Meter
From: jimlux <jimlux@earthlink.net>
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 2020 11:54:10 -0700
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
On 7/21/20 11:23 AM, dj7ww@t-online.de wrote:
Before WX0B switched to use feed through insulators I replaced two of his
baluns on Optibeams at a friend.
Baluns were made from RG393 wound through ferrite toroids.
Around the stainless steel screws the boxes were burnt out, I guess that was
caused by current, not by voltage and went into a loose connection and
thermal runaway.

Did the nut on the screw come loose or similar? I can see a temperature cycling slowly loosening it, and then once it starts to get loose, the temperature cycling could get a lot worse.

The "classic" way to avoid this would be to make sure there's enough torque that there's always sufficient preload. I'm not sure what that would be. For 1/4-20, it would be pretty high compared to #6 or #10 machine screws. I'm thinking single digit ft-lbs, which means with a 6" long wrench, you're pushing pretty hard on it.

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