[TowerTalk] KT34XA cracked insulators

Tony Brock-Fisher fisher@hp-and2.an.hp.com
Wed, 7 May 1997 10:15:21 -0400


The post about plastic crazing is referring to LEXAN. I highly doubt
the capacitor caps are LEXAN. The element-boom mounts might possibly
be some form of LEXAN, but the capcitor caps seem more like a polyethylene
to me.

As for worrying about trapping water in the capacitors, I wouldn't worry 
about it. If the water is warm enough, it should evaporate quickly before
you get the cap on. And even if there's some water trapped inside, it
should diffuse out through the breather holes in the inside tubing.
That is, of course, if in the rebuild, you have been diligent enough
to clean the spider nests out of the inner tubes.

As for screwing or rivetting the straps in place, I used rivets on some
of the straps. I'd be particularly concerned about either rivets or
screws on the capacitor tubes, as the projection (especially a pointed
projection) into the inside would reduce the high voltage breakdown of the
cap, if it didn't lead to a direct short anyway. Anybody do this?


I continue to believe, that a properly assembled and well maintained
KT-34XA is "The World's Best Tribander".

-Tony, K1KP, fisher@hp-and2.an.hp.com

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