[SEDXC] [TowerTalk] PL-259's

Wed Oct 10 16:31:35 EDT 2007

Bob,

I use "88" tape sprayed with clear Krylon to protect coax connections with
PL-259's. I have untold numbers in service with no problems.

I use a 250 watt gun to solder the braids through the PL-259's. I use RG-213
(Belden 8267). However my HF and UHF main feedlines are Andrew Heliax and
use waterproof "N" connectors. 

Leads from the main HF coax switch at 95 feet are tails of RG-213/U going to
the antennas. The 440 MHz beam is fed from the Heliax with LMR-600 Ultraflex
(a Times Microwave low loss feedline with losses similar to Heliax).

73,

John, W4NU

-----Original Message-----
From: sedxc-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:sedxc-bounces at contesting.com] On
Behalf Of Robert Carroll
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 4:00 PM
To: sedxc at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [SEDXC] [TowerTalk] PL-259's

This morning’s 17m cw op kept repeating that they were in Liberia every few
minutes. 

73
Bob W2WG
Tim-

Being 259 challenged I am intrigued by your approach.  I have about a 75%
success rate with the standard approach--but not without a lot of work and
time.  The only thing I wonder about with your approach is whether or not
water makes its way into the cable or connector at the braid joint.  I guess
the tape keeps it out to a great extent.  Do you put anything on the tape?
Any experience with water penetration?  I was thinking about putting heat
shrink on the joint too--maybe coating the tape with liquid tape before
putting up the shrink.

73
Bob W2WG

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Tim Duffy K3LR
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 2:02 PM
To: 'Steve Katz'; 'Wayne Kline'; k7lxc at aol.com; towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] PL-259's

Great point Steve!

About once a week I get asked for this link where I show how I solder
PL-259's WITHOUT dielectric damage. Here it is again with pictures:

http://www.k3lr.com/engineering/pl259/

I have helped many guys who melt the dielectric by trying to solder the
shield through the holes (even those that made the holes larger). Or worse
yet, try to solder and give up (never making a good connection). Once they
start soldering on the back of the connector (PL-259) they have no more
trouble.

Soldering on the back of the connector is easy and solid. I just finished
soldering my second bag of 100 PL-259s since January 2007. It has been a
busy summer with new phasing lines and chokes on many antenna systems at
K3LR. It takes less than 4 minutes start to finish to install a PL-259 by
soldering on the back of the connector.

73!
Tim K3LR

http://www.k3lr.com

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Steve Katz
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 12:42 PM
To: 'Wayne Kline'; k7lxc at aol.com; towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] PL-259's

BTW the round holes are sized as they are for a reason, which is to prevent
intrusion of a soldering instrument all the way into the hole, thereby
avoiding overheating the dielectric of the cable contained beneath the braid
(minimizing cable damage).  Most "factory installed" PL-259s are done using
an ~900W welding station to heat the connector body to >230C in about one
second, applying solder to the four holes until it flows into the braid
(about one more second) and then removing the current, so the operation is
completed in 2-3 seconds with absolute minimum damage to the cable.  In lieu
of that, a big, fat iron (large, heavy tip) works almost as well and is a
lot more portable.  I wouldn't intentionally dig the tip of a soldering gun
"down into" the hole (or a "slot" formed by grinding) if I expected the
connection to be reliable later. -WB2WIK/6

-----Original Message-----
From: Wayne Kline [mailto:w3ea at hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 10:37 AM
To: k7lxc at aol.com; towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] PL-259's

Generic Pl-259 Yikes... Why wait till amphenol changes there design, Just
grab a die grinder with a pencil tip tool  or appropriate size  drill and
enlarge the holes. So they fit your trusty Weller soldering tip.  Been doing
it for YEARS

Wayne W3EA

> From: K7LXC at aol.com> Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:01:54 -0400> To:
towertalk at contesting.com> Subject: [TowerTalk] PL-259's> > Howdy --> > I had
to buy a couple of generic non-silver plated, non-Teflon inserted > PL-259's
and discovered that instead of the dinky little round holes in the > body
that they had 2 rectangular slots that were big enough to poke a > soldering
gun tip into with no problem. What a revolutionary idea! It worked great. >
It solves all of the braid attachment problems. Wish someone made a silver >
plated, Teflon inserted PL-259 with rectangular slots. > > Cheers,> Steve
K7LXC> TOWER TECH -> Professional tower services for hams> Cell:
206-890-4188> > > > ************************************** See what's new at
http://www.aol.com> _______________________________________________> > > >
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