[TowerTalk] Fwd: sealing PL259's

[Thomas Noel]

Hans,

Both pipe dope and teflon tape are primarily lubricants to enable tightening the fittings enough to achieve a seal. The thread dope is a mix of lubricant grease and microscopic metallic particles to help prevent galling. I would be concerned about putting a conductive grease in a fitting that needs two distinct conductors.

Thomas W Noel
KF7RSF

> On May 26, 2015, at 10:25 AM, Hans Hammarquist via TowerTalk <towertalk at contesting.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi Jim,
> 
> 
> I was thinking about the "gray" thread sealer that doesn't harden. It would also be out of the UV-radiation being inside the threads. Should be no problem, more than cleaning the gook off.
> 
> 
> I don't like to "tighten with pliers" when you have a knurled surface on the nut (or screw for that matter). It's needed for the UHF connector but not on the N (or TNC) for a proper connection.
> 
> 
> Regarding N <-> BNC: The BNC is weather proof by specification. You will find a gasket on a "correct" BNC connector. I was also told that the cores of the BNC and the N connector as almost identical. You can, with good result, temporary push a male N onto a female BCN. The core of a male BNC also fit in the female N. You can check the dimensions for the N and the BNC you will find that they are within tolerances. The center conductor in the N is thicker to maintain the Z=50 Ohm, as there is no dielectric (beside air) surrounding the conductor.
> 
> 
> Hans
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com <mailto:jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>>
> To: towertalk <towertalk at contesting.com <mailto:towertalk at contesting.com>>
> Sent: Mon, May 25, 2015 11:02 pm
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Fwd:  sealing PL259's
> 
> 
> On Mon,5/25/2015 6:49 PM, Hans Hammarquist via TowerTalk wrote:
>> Maybe even better; the type of plumber dope they use to seal the threads.
> 
> When thinking about these materials, always consider the need to remove 
> them. :)  3M 2228 and 33 are very good in this regard. Also UV.  Using a 
> product (like plumber dope) away from its usual application requires 
> answers to questions like this. :)
> 
>> What I don't like with the PL-259 is the lack of springs to keep the
> connection good at the screen side. All other connectors have some type of
> spring that ensure a good connection such as BNC and N. You have to tighten the
> PL-259 "well" in order to keep a good contact and there are no insurance they
> will loosen up over time.
> 
> Tightening a UHF or N connector with pliers is part of mating it. If 
> you're not doing that, you're not doing it right. I consider a quality 
> UHF at least as robust as N (remember the migration problem).  I  don't 
> consider BNC a weatherproof connector, nor a good connector for
> permanent installations. Rather, I view it as one that is more suited for
> mating and un-mating, indoors, where systems are often being
> 
> reconfigured.
> 
> 73, Jim
> K9YC
> 
> 
> 
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