Nice NASA geek type reading on connections and such. I'm sure the information is largely out of date but still has a ton of really good info.
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19750010203.pdf -----Original Message----- From: Elecraft [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Edward R Cole Sent: Saturday, August 22, 2015 2:03 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] normal K3 voltage drop on TX I agree with Bob, but as 45-years experience has taught me. Properly crimped bright new copper wire is fine. Take a look several years later (also compare contact resistance; probably best measured as voltage drop under load). If you live in the desert where humidity never rises above 25% you may not see any change. Put the same crimped connector 100-foot from salt water and less than three years it will turn green and start to fail. Put on a boat with no sealant and the connector will fall apart. Solder the connector after crimping to that bright new copper wire and those problems will be lessened. ON a boat only airtight sealant will ensure long life. I find where I want to ensure lowest contact resistance soldering after crimping works. But if the wire is subject to repeated movement or vibrational forces the soldered connection will break whereas crimp-only seems more resilient. Spacecraft use crimped-only connectors (subject to high g-force vibration in launch and extreme temperature variations). But then there is no air in space and thus no moisture to corrode. For ordinary shack wiring of a ham station crimp+ solder causes no harm. I use it where ever I want to ensure the lowest voltage drop under load. Most of those NAPA wire crimpers are a poor excuse for a real tool - but probably what most of us use. My coax crimpers are properly racheting crimpers and produce a good contact. Still I do not like them in situations where the cable sees a lot of movement. Good old compression back nut construction is best. I'm talking about N, BNC, TNC, sma, 7/16, etc. PL-259's are used only if I have to. 73, Ed - KL7UW ---------- From: Bob McGraw - K4TAX <[email protected]> To: Jerry Moore <[email protected]>, [email protected] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] normal K3 voltage drop on TX Message-ID: <[email protected]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed Properly it must be crimped A N D soldered. Both are required. Are you saying a crimped and soldered connection is worse than a crimped only connection? My military experience says there first must be a mechanical connection made {crimp or wrap} and then follow with an electrical connection {solder}. And RCA stipulated this practice in all of their broadcast equipment. 73 Bob, K4TAX K3S s/n 10,163 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com "Kits made by KL7UW" Dubus Mag business: [email protected] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected]
