[TowerTalk] PL-259 question

[K8RI]

On 11/15/2012 7:50 PM, John Becker wrote:
> Amphenol makes several different solder-type PL-259 plugs.
>
> http://www.amphenolrf.com/products/CatalogPages/UHF.pdf
>
> http://www.amphenolrf.com/search.asp?sid=50A430806CC8617F&N=57+4294966936+4294967230+4294967257
>
>
> Some have a Teflon insulator, and some are Phenolic. I've seen three
> different colors of what I assume are phenolic: Dark yellow (very old),
> light yellow, and blue.
>
> I can find nothing in Amphenol's literature to suggest which insulator
> is preferable under which circumstance.

Teflon is normally preferable.

  The Teflon plugs seem to be the
> most expensive,

But not by much.


  but are they actually any better than phenolic? I know
> it can be difficult to re-use a Teflon connector because the heat
> necessary to unsolder them can cause the center pin to shift.

If that happens you are using wayyy too much heat.
Teflon will cold flow under tension or pressure, but again that 
shouldn't be a problem in a PL-259

IF the center pin shifts with normal soldering then the insulator is not 
Teflon, but more likely something like PVC. Many generic connectors of 
all types are coming with this cheap thermoplastic as insulators, but 
you usually see that in multi conductor connectors such as the DIN 
connectors.

>
> Can anyone pass along some enlightenment on this subject? Thanks!
>

Jim has some good information.

73

Roger (K8RI)

> 73, John, K9MM
>
>
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