[TowerTalk] Fused disc hardline and center
conductor/connector
Robin E. Midgett
rmidgett@bellsouth.net
Thu, 28 Sep 2000 11:27:09 -0500
<html>
<font size=3D3>I like this idea of extending the center conductor with a
brass coupling to copper wire for soldering. <br>
<br>
The method I have used works well, with no additional parts or soldering.
Simply file the center conductor to fit, leaving some copper on one side
of the aluminum wire. If that isn't sufficient, bore the PL259 center pin
out slightly with a drill & bit, then assemble & solder to the
remaining copper.<br>
<br>
Robin KB4IDC<br>
<br>
<br>
At 02:01 PM 9/27/2000 -0400, Tom Rauch wrote:<br>
><br>
>> While preparing to start making stubs and attach them to the
connectors, I<br>
>> noticed that the I need to significantly reduce the diameter of
the 3/4"<br>
>> fused disc hardline center conductor in order for it to fit
within the<br>
>> PL258 "middle".<br>
>> <br>
>> On this particular hardline, the CC is copper coated, so when
you remove<br>
>> the top part you are back to what I think is aluminum inside.=A0
Aside from<br>
>> making it tougher to solder to the pl258 with a torch, is there
any<br>
>> problem with this?,<br>
><br>
>I have a $39 tap and die set.<br>
><br>
>I always run a threading die over the center, to reduce the size. I
<br>
>start with one that just fits, and work my way smaller until the
<br>
>center conductor just tightly fits the center of the barrel.<br>
><br>
>By alternating between between coarse and fine threads, you get a
<br>
>knurled finish.<br>
><br>
>I have never worried about the fact aluminum contacts the <br>
>connector, other than giving it a light coating of pure silicon=20
<br>
>dielectric grease.<br>
><br>
>If you are worried about dissimilar metals, take a hunk of cable to
<br>
>Hobby Center and look at the brass tubing for model building. Find
<br>
>a size that just fits over the center, and then solder it to the
center. <br>
>Then you can solder a small piece of solid copper wire (as I recall
<br>
>number eight works) into the brass, and let that fit the
connector.<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
>73, Tom W8JI<br>
>w8ji@contesting.com<br>
><br>
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