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Re: [TowerTalk] One more question on PL-259s

To: "Mel Whitten" <mel@melwhitten.com>, <towertalk@contesting.com>,"Cecil Moore" <w5dxp@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] One more question on PL-259s
From: Jim Lux <jimlux@earthlink.net>
Date: Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:49:13 -0800
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
At 08:26 PM 11/9/2006, Mel Whitten wrote:
>Cecil,
>
>Not possible, I believe to get a "cold weld" as KISTLER
>web site refers using solid wires.  IDC or insertion displacement
>connections is similar to a crimp and here you will see solid
>wires.  So now I have seen threads on cad weld, copper weld
>and now we have cold weld.   Plastically here I believe, means
>cold flow of the material.  Gas tight connection so it won't
>oxidize.

There's all sorts of "deform the metal" sorts of connection 
techniques.  Crimping being but one.
Wirewrap, for instance, depends on the corners of the square posts 
cutting into the wire wrapped around the post to form a gas-tight 
seal, with the "stretch" of the wire providing a tension to resist vibration.
3M had a SpeedWire (I think that was the name) where you pushed 
insulated solid wire onto fork shaped terminals (much like Insulation 
Displacing Connectors from T&B).. the edges of the fork cut into the 
wire, forming a gas tight seal and also cutting through any oxide on 
the surface.

The ever popular "wire nut" works this way, but sort of in reverse. 
The edges of the "spring" inside the nut cut into the solid 
conductors.  The "spring" keeps the force on in a vibrational environment.

Most all telephone wiring these days is done with crimped connections 
of solid wires, with ScotchLok type connectors (or essentially 
identical connectors from other mfrs).

The ubiquitous RJ45 network jacks are assembled with the "forked 
terminal cutting into the side of the wire" sort of technique, and, 
interestingly, provide a constant impedance connection with 
remarkably good match.

In fact, now that I think about it, writing the above lines, I 
suspect that soldering is sort of an archaic method of connecting 
wires, except for some form of mass connection (i.e. flow soldering, 
or reflow).  And, for, wires at least, "solder isn't structural". 
(Soldering is used to attach dice to substrates, but it's not tin/lead solder.)


>I am sure someone on the list can answer your question directly,
>but I am firm believer in crimping when done with the proper
>tools and materials since it can provide a superior connection.


Jim, W6RMK


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