[TowerTalk] Avoiding connectors. Yellow stuff

[Tom Rauch]

.the yellow stuff is probably Phenolic, made by the American
> Phenolic Corp. (A.K.A.   AMPHENOL)

Phenolic is paper based, and is actually pretty good at HF. It 
generally had a dark reddish brown color, and sort of crumbles 
when it is broken. It turns black with high temperatures, and falls 
apart, but doesn't melt. Touch it with a solder iron tip, and it barely 
leaves a dark spot.

All the stuff I've seen that melts is plastic, but I don't know the 
exact composition. Most of the melting connectors I've seen are 
imports from China and Taiwan. I've seen both brownish and 
yellowish colors melt. 

Normal Amphenols are plastic, but they handle at least 5 kW CCS 
at HF and have less heating at VHF than phenolic connectors.

You can't tell the good plastics from the poor ones without making  
RF tests, but of you buy an Amphenol your are safe. No matter 
what color it is.
73, Tom W8JI
w8ji@contesting.com

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