[TowerTalk] Crimp-on PL259 et al

Sat Feb 12 12:48:38 PST 2011

Hi Les,

Can you please tell me what crimping tool you use and where
to get them??  Also to correct connectors for RG-213...

Thanks Les,

73,
Ted  K2QMF

On Sat, 12 Feb 2011 15:45:57 -0500 Les Kalmus <w2lk at bk-lk.com> writes:
>   Peter,
> 
> I use crimp connectors a lot and have not had any problems like 
> this.
> I looks like the crimp was not tight enough which is most likely 
> from 
> either the wrong die, not enough pressure or crimping too far behind 
> the 
> head of the connector.
> I can bring the crimper I use to the next meeting for you to take a 
> look 
> at if you like.
> 
> Les W2LK
> 
> On 2/12/2011 1:11 PM, Peter Dougherty wrote:
> > The copper shield itself isn't visible in the shot, but it's under 
> the
> > ferrule that's pulled back. That knurled portion behind the barrel 
> of the
> > white heat-shrunk PL-259 (between the heat shrink and the part you 
> rotate
> > onto the SO-239) should not be visible. That knurled bit should 
> have copper
> > shield and crimped ferrule over top of it (and optional 
> heat-shrink). The
> > "Amp Out" connector (below it) isn't in clear focus in that shot, 
> but it's
> > still good. The "failed" one hasn't failed completely, the centre 
> is still
> > soldered in and the electrical connections are solid (it's the 
> lead down
> > from the tower). I haven't gotten around to replacing it yet but 
> when I get
> > some time that's high on the priorities list, assuming there's any 
> slack
> > left in the basement - it's pretty snug right now.
> >
> >
> > ------
> >
> >   - pjd
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
> > [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Jim W7RY
> > Sent: Saturday, February 12, 2011 12:10 PM
> > To: Peter Dougherty; 'Michael W5NIG'; towertalk at contesting.com
> > Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Crimp-on PL259 et al
> >
> > I see a connector covered with heatshrink and no shield pulling 
> away.  ????
> >
> > Jim W7RY
> >
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------
> > From: "Peter Dougherty"<w2irt at verizon.net>
> > Sent: Saturday, February 12, 2011 8:36 AM
> > To: "'Michael 
> W5NIG'"<tower at coffeepower.net>;<towertalk at contesting.com>
> > Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Crimp-on  PL259 et al
> >
> >> Here are two photos of what I mean by crimp-on PL-259s failing.
> >>
> >>
> > 
>
http://s291.photobucket.com/albums/ll290/W2IRT/Towers%20and%20Antennas/?a
cti
> >> on=view&current=Crimp-fail-1.jpg
> >>
> > 
>
http://s291.photobucket.com/albums/ll290/W2IRT/Towers%20and%20Antennas/?a
cti
> >> on=view&current=Crimp-fail-3.jpg
> >>
> >> You can see the braid/ferrule has pulled back from the main part 
> of the
> >> connector. When installed this was flush against the body of the
> >> connector.
> >> Eventually this will pull right off. If I hadn't soldered the 
> center
> >> conductor in (some are intended to just crimp on) the coax would 
> pull
> >> right
> >> out of the connector. When, in the middle of CQWW 2009, my 160 TX 
> antenna
> >> had failed I went outside and found the coax laying on the sodden 
> ground
> >> having failed exactly in that manner.
> >>
> >> After the contest was over I pulled somewhat-gently on every coax 
> sticking
> >> down from the Ameritron antenna switchbox and two more pulled 
> apart. At
> >> that
> >> point I still trusted the connectors, but I insisted on soldering 
> the
> >> centers after that. When more failed inside the shack, on patch 
> cables,
> >> etc,
> >> I gave up and went back to solder-only.
> >>
> >>
> >> ------
> >>
> >> - pjd
> >>
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
> >> [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Michael 
> W5NIG
> >> Sent: Saturday, February 12, 2011 9:17 AM
> >> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> >> Subject: [TowerTalk] Crimp-on PL259 et al
> >>
> >> ***Quote***
> >> Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:39:52 -0500
> >> From: "Peter Dougherty"<w2irt at verizon.net>
> >> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Crimp-on PL259
> >> To:<nf4l at nf4l.com>, "'towertalk reflector'"
> >> <towertalk at contesting.com>
> >> Message-ID:<018401cbca3c$99d3e380$cd7baa80$@net>
> >>
> >> Mike, I have to say my experiences with crimp-on connectors has 
> ranged
> >> from
> >> convenient to catastrophic failure, with the latter being 
> commonplace. I'd
> >> say about 75% of the crimp connectors have failed within the 
> three years
> >> they've been installed, both inside and outside. Once any stress 
> goes on
> >> the
> >> cable (just gravity for the most part), it's just been a matter 
> of time
> >> before it fails in my experience. I'm using connectors from The 
> RF
> >> Connection as well as the crimp tool they provided and I use a 
> cable-prep
> >> tool from DX Engineering. This summer all my remaining crimp-on 
> connectors
> >> will be cut off and new solder-type (inside) and clamp-type 
> connectors
> >> (outside) will go on instead. I'm quite intrigued about this new 
> clamp
> >> type
> >> and I'd personally like to get more first-hand experiences 
> before
> >> shotgunning out all the existing connectors.
> >>
> >> ***UnQuote***
> >>
> >> Very interesting!   I've been using a coax prep tool for quite a 
> while
> >> now,
> >> it's a
> >> love/hate relationship, hi hi.  works well though, all in all.  I 
> just
> >> bought a crimp
> >> tool with the extra set of jaws at the last hamfest that I 
> attended.  I
> >> haven't had
> >> opportunity yet to us one on regular rg8 or 213 but have had the 
> pleasure
> >> of
> >>
> >> installing
> >> a few on 8x. I've got to say Im impressed with it in that 
> capacity!  good
> >> compression
> >> on the shield and great tension on the jacket.  Usually the thing 
> is
> >> subject
> >>
> >> to twisting
> >> etc and if the coax is moving a lot I eventually might have 
> issues with
> >> it.
> >> I"ll be testing
> >> it on 8/213 coax at easy to get to places to see how it goes when 
> I get
> >> back
> >>
> >> on my tower
> >> project!
> >>
> >>     Michael  de W5NIG
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >>
> >>
> >>
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> >>
> >>
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