[UK-CONTEST] PL259 Plugs

[Laurence Mason]

One should use EHT connectors for EHT - not rf coax types. With an EHT 
connector the HV connection is actually recessed into the body of the 
insulation in the centre and it is extremely difficult to touch with a 
finger. PET, SHV are things to look for.

I was a student with someone who was trying to reach behind his 
amplifier to change the antenna, only the 259 he undid was the eht not 
the antenna. It went in his fingers and out through his elbow which was 
on a conductive bench - I seem to remember he only spent 24 hours in 
hospital and in the end did not need skin grafts to heal the burnt 
areas. He was lucky that it went in and out the same arm and not across 
the chest...

Laurence G4HTD


Dave Lawley wrote:
> Ray
>
> I expect you bought the cheapo nickel plated ones. I recently bought 
> silver plated, PTFE insulation from a well known West Country supplier 
> and the extra cost is definitely worth it.
>
> If you must use the nickel plated plugs, it's worth filing out the holes 
> a little to make it easier to solder.
>
> More importantly, I would NEVER use a PL259 to carry EHT, because it's 
> easy to connect the pin while the shell is still floating. Yes I know 
> you'd never connect or disconnect with the power on, but it's not worth 
> the risk. N or C types are fine for this application.
>
> Dave G4BUO
>
> Ray Hills wrote:
>   
>>  
>> Be careful of your source.  I recently bought a pack from a well known West 
>> Country supplier intending to use them on 2kV HV leads.  The first two 
>> tracked.  I measured the resistance of the remaining unused ones with a 500v 
>> Megger and they were between 1 and 4 Megohms!  I sent them back.  Clearly 
>> the insulation is rubbish.
>>
>> Ray G3HRH 
>>     
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