[TowerTalk] N connector, Re: UHF (PL259) soldered center

[Jim Thomson]

Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2018 22:35:21 -0700
From: Avery Davis <wb4rtp at mindspring.com>
To: "Charlie at thegallos.com" <charlie at thegallos.com>
Cc: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] N connector, Re:  UHF (PL259) soldered center
with braid crimp or, crimp-crimp, supply?

<Charlie,
<Would you please share a link to a source that discusses the limits of N
<connectors?? Everything I have seen so far suggests they have as good or
<better power handling at low frequencies than the PL-259, and are much
<better at UHF as they are constant impedance (lower loss, higher power,
<lower SWR).? For example, Amphenol rates their SO-239 at 500 V, while
<their Type N is rated at 1500 Volts.? That sounds like better power
<handling, to me.? The current rating wasn't listed, but I would think
<that they would be about the same as the wire gauge in the coax cable
<center conductor, since both connectors have center contact outer
<diameter about the same as RG-8 or RG-213 coax, especially if skin-depth
<effects are taken into account.?
<I would appreciate a link to a better source of information on this.
<73,
<Avery, WB4RTP

##  Forget what amphenol  states.  A  teflon PL-259  will hi pot test a heck of a lot higher
than a  Type N.   Type N uses a puny center pin, identical to a BNC. The center pin
on any PL-259 is huge by comparison.  There is no RF on the center pin any way. The
RF travels down the outside of the mating female of the   SO-239.   You can stuff  10+ kw
through a  quality  teflon silver, correctly installed   PL-259 +  SO-239 pair.   Avoid high swr, which can
easily be fixed, right at the feed point.   10 kw = 707 volts RMS... =  1000 volts peak.   10 kw =  14 A RMS. 
5kw =  10A  RMS  and  500 Vrms.... =  707 Volts peak..which is dick.   You wont blow anything up  with 1.5 kw. 

##     The next step above the silver teflon  PL-259 and  SO-239 setup is the teflon silver 7-16 DIN connector. 
The 7-16 is the real deal.  Nobody uses  Type N anymore, the telcos all dumped the type N  years ago..and swapped
to 7-16 din.   What really looks silly is  huge heliax,  like .875 and bigger variety... with a type N connector installed,
complete with the puny BNC sized center pin. 

Jim   VE7RF