[TowerTalk] Bird Model 74 coaxial switch wear out mechanisms?

[al.n6ta at gmail.com]

Thanks for the valuable info, Gedas.
I owned one 40 years ago and sold it for peanuts, assuming I'd never need
one again.  I did that a lot but that's water under the bridge.
Since they are not cheap, I did not want to get one and have it wear out in
no time!
If anyone wants to part with a 4 to 6 position switch, let me know.
Thanks again.
Al
N6TA

-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Gedas
Sent: Wednesday, December 11, 2019 10:25 AM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Bird Model 74 coaxial switch wear out mechanisms?

I cannot give you a formal number from Bird but I have used dozens of these
for over 30 years for tempest test applications. It would not be uncommon
for a technician in our lab to use one of these switches at least 100 times
a day, year after year, decade after decade w/o any issues. We would as a
matter of routine maintenance spray the contacts with contact cleaner and
verify their I.L. in all positions. They are _extremely_ robust. I use
several for my own RF applications here at home.

Gedas, W8BYA

Gallery at http://w8bya.com
Light travels faster than sound....
This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

On 12/11/2019 12:19 PM, al.n6ta at gmail.com wrote:
> Anyone know the center contact in the movable part wears out after 
> many mating cycles?  I would use one of these to change antennas 
> daily, and multiple times a day.  Not sure of its design purpose and 
> if this is 'abuse'.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Al-N6TA
>
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