[Amps] UHF Connectors

Paul Christensen w9ac at arrl.net
Wed Nov 13 07:29:26 EST 2013


> I've given up on the traditional solder-type PL-259s. Now I use the crimp 
> on
> type and have never had a failure. The crimper is expensive but well worth
> the time and hassle saved.  I got both crimper and connectors on eBay. 
> There
> are many sizes so be sure you get the right ones.

I started using crimps for indoor installations.  Outdoors, I still prefer 
soldered PL-259s.

All inside cabling is RG-400.  The crimps have held up well except for one 
recent failure:  The connector body had separated from the ground sleeve end 
that's inserted onto the braid.  What's strange is that since the crimp is 
still strong and intact, the connector looks fine to the eye -- but the body 
now rotates when the sleeve is held firm.   These are high-quality crimped 
connectors from Amphenol.

The crimp worked so well that the connector is actually usable until I cut 
it down and install a new connector.  Not sure how this happened.  The 
PL-259 is installed on the back of a transceiver and because it's protected 
in a deep compartment, there's little chance that it could.have bumped into 
something and broken that way.

Paul, W9AC
 



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