[TowerTalk] broken balun wires

[Gary Schafer]

I agree with Roger. Best to only crimp in that situation. If you are going
to solder after crimping a long crimp is needed and then only solder a small
amount on the end of the wire near the ring. When solder is allowed to wick
out into the wire past the lug it gets stiff and will break easily at the
solder/wire junction. There are some lugs available with tabs to bend over
the wire to support it. Those would help.

73
Gary K4FMX

> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:towertalk-
> bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Roger (K8RI)
> Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2010 10:14 PM
> To: Tower and HF antenna construction topics.
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] broken balun wires
> 
> 
> 
> Bill K2OWR wrote:
> > :::: You were not crimping the lug?
> > I would crimp it AND solder it.
> >
> Solder mechanically weakens it in a crimp although it helps in weather.
> In aviation wiring, we are not allowed to solder a crimped connector.
> With the vibration/movement the wire will almost inevitably break at the
> wire/solder interface.
> 
> If the need to solder is felt make sure to bend the wire in an "S" shape
> between the solder and the the other end of the "S" as others have
> already mentioned.
> 
> 73
> 
> Roger (K8RI)
> 
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