Thanks everyone for the advice and information. Sorry to take a few days
getting back to this, was distracted by another (radio) project.
Most of my old connectors are evidently silver plated. Their finish is
dulled by the years but they solder rather easily with a moderate
wattage iron.
Someone inquired as to the interior insulating material. The SO-239's
have a brown material, looks like bakelite. The male-male barrels,
female-female barrels and 90-degree male-female connectors appear to
have plastic dielectric. On some of the connectors I can see through the
plastic, on most it is an off-white that I cannot see through.
What I get out of this discussion is that these are oldies but goodies.
I'll put 'em to use!
Thanks again,
Steve
Didier Juges wrote:
> You should be able to tell because silver that is more than a few months old
> will have a slight (or more pronounced) yellowish tint, where nickel plating
> looks just like stainless steel. Nickel oxide is clear (and always only a
> very thin layer), so it does not affect the aspect of the connector.
>
> If you can tell the difference between real silverware and regular kitchen
> stainless steel "silverware", you have it made :-)
>
> Finally, if you can solder it easily, it definitely is silver and not nickel
> plated, even though nickel can be soldered, it requires higher temperatures
> and is much harder to do.
>
> 73,
> Didier/KO4BB
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steve" <steveac@charter.net>
> To: <TowerTalk@contesting.com>
> Sent: Saturday, August 02, 2003 1:03 PM
> Subject: [allowed] Re: [TowerTalk] Old coax connectors . . .
>
>
>
>>Steve,
>>
>>Thanks for the info. Allow me to press my luck with a further question:
>>How does one discern the difference between the connectors which are
>>silver plated and those which are otherwise plated?
>>
>>Thanks again!
>>
>>Steve
>>
>>K7LXC@aol.com wrote:
>>
>>>In a message dated 8/1/03 10:27:31 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
>>>steveac@charter.net writes:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>I have several PL-259 and SO-239 connectors that I acquired in the
>>>>1970's. Also a number of male-male barrels, female-female barrels and
>>>>90-degree male-female connectors.
>>>>
>>>>Do these type of connectors deteriorate with the passing of the years?
>>>>Their finish has been dulled, but they are in good mechanical
>
> condition.
>
>>>>They have been kept dry during storage, although exposed to the summer
>>>>and winter time temperatures of an unheated/uncooled building.
>>>
>>>
>>> It depends on the material. If they're silver, then the silver oxide
>>>collected over the years is a conductor and they'll work FB. If they're
>
> nickel
>
>>>plated, then the nickel oxide is not a conductor and you'll have
>
> potential
>
>>>problems.
>>>
>>>Cheers,
>>>Steve K7LXC
>>>TOWER TECH -
>>>Professional tower services for commercial and amateur
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>
>>>See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
>
> Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
> questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
>>>_______________________________________________
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>>>TowerTalk@contesting.com
>>>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>>>
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>
>>See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
>
> Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
> questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
>>_______________________________________________
>>TowerTalk mailing list
>>TowerTalk@contesting.com
>>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>
>
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