[TowerTalk] Cordless solder irons

[john at kk9a.com]

Now I may change my weekend plans of hauling a generator up the tower and
soldering ring terminals on all of my rotator cables :)

Of course Jim is correct regarding the minimal voltage loss in long
extension cords for small amperage devices. I have no problem soldering
using hundreds of feet of extension cord in the yard while on the ground. I
try to avoid soldering on the tower but sometimes it is necessary and it
definitely is more difficult. Sometimes it seems like the solder is very
close to flowing but it just won't. A larger soldering iron really helps. I
also have a small Weller Butane iron. I used it once to replace a terminal
connector and it worked OK on the tower however I doubt it would work on a
PL-259.

Nice to work you in Sweepstakes last weekend, Jim!

73,
John KK9A - W4AAA
 

From:	Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>
Reply-to:	jim at audiosystemsgroup.com
Date:	Wed, 19 Nov 2014 09:57:06 -0800
On Wed,11/19/2014 9:51 AM, john at kk9a.com wrote:

>Bringing a small generator up the tower is an interesting idea. The
>voltage drop from long extension cords really kills the heat. The Honda
>EU1000i weighs only 30 pounds and it will run for longer than 5 minutes.

That's what I like about you, John -- a very practical guy! How would you
like to coordinate our next Field Day?

For those not capable of doing the arithmetic, the voltage drop in several
hundred feet of extension cord for a 50W soldering iron is pretty small.

73, Jim K9YC