The_Man asked, "Why would anyone want to install quick disconnects?"
Those were our reasons.
But another important reason we omitted is: You don't always get to do a
rotor replacement during ideal weather.
We wouldn't do this now, but back in the day, we once replaced a rotor in
15 deg weather when some Rare_One
we needed was going to be on that day. Also, the pile-up won't wait while
one fiddles with 8 screws.....73, Don N7EF
On Thu, Nov 6, 2014 at 11:29 PM, Jim Thomson <jim.thom@telus.net> wrote:
> Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2014 20:26:46 -0800
> From: Big Don <bigdon39@gmail.com>
> To: W3YY <w3yy@cox.net>
> Cc: "towertalk@contesting.com" <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Rotor cable / Steppir cable connectors
>
> FWIW, the quick disconnects available from Norm's Rotor have gold pins on
> both halves.
> Pricey, but don't expect any corrosion..
>
> After nearly 40 years of using the old Ham IV 8-screw terminal strips
> (never had a reliability problem)
> we are now converting to Norm's disconnects. As geriatrics become an issue,
> every extra minute on the tower hurts. Disconnecting and reconnecting the
> 8-wires can consume 15-30 finger-fumbling vision-impaired minutes ---
> dealing with rusty screws and wires, slipping wire ends under those screws
> that really don't unscrew far enough to make the job easy, keeping the
> wires from oozing out from under the screws while tightening them,
> re-stripping and forming the wire ends if any broke during the
> disconnecting operation, finally making sure the connections are correct
> and tight,
>
> Maybe y'alll got a better way, but we always have done it with the rotor
> laying precariously *LOOSE* on its side, on the rotor shelf, in order to
> get necessary easy access to the terminal strip, Not something you want
> especially if some wasps seize the opportunity to attack.. A Rohn 25 rotor
> shelf is not very wide, makes a lousy workbench. It is now a 10 second
> operation with the rotor solidly bolted in place.....
>
> 73, Don N7EF
>
> ## why not just install Sta-kon crimp connectors on each of the 8 x
> wires..
> then solder em after crimping. [ -SNIP- ]
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