[Amps] 3CX400/3CX800 Socket

[Paul Christensen]

> What happens, I think, is that the RF heats any ferrous metal, making it 
> oxidize. That's
> why hardware in RF fields needs to be non-ferrous. I suspect it must be 
> getting red-hot in
> order to do that. Wasted power that could be working DX!

Quick story:  Back in college, I rebuilt the PA cavity of an RCA 5KW FM 
transmitter.  The owner of the station was an ex-CBS Radio engineer.  When I 
completed the hardware assembly, he asked what I used for hardware. 
Puzzled, I told him I really didn't know.  He then unscrewed a sample of 
hardware, took them to the work bench and began testing the hardware for 
magnetic attraction.  He used the permanent magnet from a loudspeaker for 
the test.  I had previously wondered why he kept the speaker near a big 
Maxwell House tin can loaded with hardware.  He told me that in RF 
applications, to try and use brass at every opportunity, and stainless steel 
as less-preferred substitute.  Neither metal is magnetic in low fields, but 
perhaps stainless still retains some of its ferrous attributes depending on 
it grade.  To this day, I still have trouble sorting stainless from 
nickel-plated brass hardware.  I suppose the nickel hardware has a bit more 
shine than does the duller appearance of stainless.

Paul, W9AC