Kim (and any others)--
I make assemblies of copper that are normally used in the hand, and I have
used lead-free (Tin-Silver Plumbing solder) for assembly. I use both Torch
and Irons to make the joints. I have had no problems in several years.
As it happens, my supply of solder in the shack is all Lead-Tin, and in the
studio it's all Silver-Tin. It was not planned that way-- it just happened.
The fluxes are different, but otherwise I see little difference in
application or use. The only connecter failure I have had recently was
caused by a faulty (mine) joint in a lead solder braid-to-body junction in
a tower top RG213 link. It was hell to find because it was intermittent.
With all the comments I have read about problems, I have some questions.
Many of the comments seem to be "anecdotal" at best, and I would like to
get some facts that can be checked, or traced to sources or Specs. Hams are
notorious for jumping from single instance examples to universal truths. I
know--I was first licensed in 1952.
Does anyone have data or knowledge of the causes of problems with the
Tin-Silver (lead free) solder, particularly in outdoor, Ham use?
Thanks- Bill-W4BSG
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kim Elmore" <cw_de_n5op@sbcglobal.net>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2008 11:44 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] PL-239 Going Open?
>I truly appreciate all the responses!
>
> The 9913 is not wet inside -- I checked this the first time it
> happened and it was dry behind the connector that I cut off. I won't
> get any water ingress into my shack because my run is not continuous
> and because all the 9913 connectors up on the tower are shielded from
> the rain. This is good because digging up the 9913 is simply not an
> option -- that would cost many thousands of dollars because we'd have
> to go through the driveway and wrap-around porch. OUCH!
>
> I've had 90 deg elbows fail before (non-Amphenol) but all my barrel
> connectors are Amphenol. I also tested them when each failure
> occurred and each time and they tested fine.
>
> I used good, old-fashioned Kester rosin core Sn/Pb solder, of which I
> should have enough to last the rest of my life. I'll avoid lead-free
> solder to my ;ast breath!
>
> I know that PL-259s aren't waterproof, but decided to not wrap them
> having read that more often than not water gets in anyway and gets
> trapped, never able to evaporate. But, I'll freely admit that this
> might be misguided. I have a fair supply of Scotch 33+ tape and, as
> soon as it warms up (it's 16 deg F as I type), I'll wrap all the
> connections.
>
> Finally, I didn't positively determine if the failure was in the
> braid connection or the center pin connection in the most recent
> case. The prior failure was about a year ago and, in that instance I
> cut off the connector and found that it was the center pin connection
> that failed, even though I could not move the wire in the connector.
>
> 73,
>
> Kim Elmore N5OP
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
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