[TowerTalk] Plumbing > Hardline

[Gerry Smith]

Several have asked me to elaborate after my post regarding using
plumbing fittings to connect to hardline. Here goes:

 

I have hardline with a solid aluminum shield. The shield is ½ inch in
diameter.

 

I purchase a plumbing fitting that has a compression coupling on one end
that is made for ½ inch copper tubing. In other words, the ID of the
compression end is ½ inch. I use Penetrox and compress the connection to
the hardline shield. The other end has inside threads for ½ inch OD
pipe. I drill out the threads with a ½ inch drill. The body of a PL-259
is ½ inch. I then solder the PL-259 in place (after removing the center
pin, see below).

 

I drill out the center conductor pin of a PL-259 with a bit the size of
the diameter of the center conductor of my hardline, which is .172 inch.
The center conductor fits directly, and nicely, into a SO-239. So, I
have a bit of an air dielectric in the brass fittings but works just
fine.

 

You may have different size hardline, and thusly different dimensions. I
suggest you take a piece of your hardline, a PL-259, and a SO-239 down
to your local professional plumbing supplier and ask them to help.

 

Gerry Smith, W6TER