RE: [Elecraft] Qs about esd and BNC connectors
George, N4YM asked: Q: Once parts are installed, (ICs, etc.) is it neccessary to use a wrist strap?? Q: Is the solderless BNC (Radio Shack) ok?? There are 2 types at RS: a screw in and a clamp type. When you handle unplugged boards, use EDS protection. Just touching an unpainted ground is FB, but a wrist strap is even better because you won't forget. If you have a grounded anti-static pad, use it to set the boards on. The problem is that some of the inputs to I.C.'s such as the master control unit have a very, very high impedance -- in the range of many, many megohms. Those inputs can only handle a few volts without damage. At that high an impedance, even small static charge on your hands can destroy the chip, or at least damage some of the solid state gates inside causing a partial failure and intermittent operation. When the chip is all hooked up, the surrounding circuitry protects it by providing a constant path to ground that bleeds off all but the biggest static charges. But once you unplug the boards, the inputs to the sensitive chips that are opened are almost as vulnerable as if you were handling the chip itself. I don't know the RS bnc's but I'm sure others will help there. Ron AC7AC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Qs about esd and BNC connectors
I replied to George directly. I have had trouble while mobile with a Radio Shack twist on BNC loosening on my RG 58 coax antenna lead. Amphenol is carried by Mouser with no minimum order, and has both crimp on and solder and clamp type BNCs. They also have a twist on Amphenol, but have not experience with it. The easy one for me to assemble is the crimp on. Tools are not all that expensive and if you get one with removable dies, you can handle all crimp on connectors and cables. My tool came from Pasternack co. It had box, dies, tool and even included some crimp on Amphenol BNC plugs. But check around, crimper tools prices vary widely. You may get one with fixed dies to handle most of your future needs. -Stuart K5KVH ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Qs about esd and BNC connectors
Q: Is the solderless BNC (Radio Shack) ok?? There are 2 types at RS: a screw in and a clamp type. Once I needed a BNC and that was all RS had. Unfortunately I found that they won't work with the type of RG-58 which has a stranded center conductor, so I picked up a clamp/solder type at an electronics store the next day. I eventually used the screw in connector with solid center conductor coax and it seemed to work fine, but it still looked a bit kludgy. If I were making a lot of cables, I'd invest in crimp tools. 72. Bob N7XY ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Qs about esd and BNC connectors
Crimp tools run from about $50 for limited sets of dies at Mouser, to $200 for a do everything crimp tool from Pasternak Enterprises. I have two types of Pasternak tools at work and although not cheap they last forever. But check other distributors catalogs. Places like MCM might have a better buy on crimp tools. -Stuart K5KVH ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
