[TowerTalk] Reliability (or not) of SMA connectors

[GEO Badger]

 Do not put any adhesive on the threads. Do get a torque wrench, they won't go out of spec in your lifetime, or a 5/15" wrench to dedicate to your SMA use. Or a SMA finger wrench, https://www.rfcafe.com/miscellany/homepage-archive/2014/SMA-Finger-Wrench-Bracke-Manufacturing.htm, that slips over the nut and you tighten/loosen the connector. They are available in plastic or brass. It's difficult to over torque a SMA connector, if you're not ham handed. These connectors are in use in major hi-reliability applications and they do not come loose with proper application. BTW, there are SMA push-on connectors for the test environment. Also M and N push-ons.
As pointed out, the shield connection is the interior face of the connector, not through the nut. Once the assemblies are interconnected, they should not be moved about unless connected by a very flexible coax.
After the final assembly on can put a dab of Sentry-Seal on the connector where the threads are visible. This doesn't prevent loosening but will notify the operator if the connection has failed or been tampered with.
Geo, who may or may not have used a bunch of SMA connectors and their derivatives in a past professional life, and sold connectors for M/A-COM Omni-Spectra, who I believe originally developed the SMA.
---
Ciao baby, catch you on the flip side
73 de W3AB/GEOAFA9GB
WA2LSI, KE6RJW, W6B, W7B, AAR9AG
http://www.w3ab.org


Jazz is a pencil sharpener. Jazz is a frying pan… Jazz is a beautiful woman whose older brother is a policeman