KPA1500 LOW GAIN FAULT
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Tightening inside PL259's with pliers is not desirable, because each Hams
definition of "SNUG" occurs at different Torque levels. I want to use my hands to screw them on and off. Also, when you have SO239 chassis mounted "Round" connectors (using one large lock washer), then pliers will loosen them every time. What I do is, treat each connector center pin and threads with Caig DeOxit. I do this on all connectors. Now I can put them on and off by hand and there is no Oxidation causing High Impedance RF connections. I do the same on my outside connectors BUT I do also apply 2 inch lbs. of torque. This keeps them from working loose with vibration and prevents oxidation. Ron Durie WB4OOA Elecraft K-Line 704-843-3681 ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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On 5/1/2019 9:08 AM, Ron Durie wrote:
> Tightening inside PL259's with pliers is not desirable, because each Hams > definition of "SNUG" occurs at different Torque levels. > I want to use my hands to screw them on and off. You may like that, but mother nature likes them tight. And she always wins. > Also, when you have SO239 chassis mounted "Round" connectors (using one > large lock washer), then pliers will loosen them every time. I'd call that equipment junk. 73, Jim K9YC ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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I don’t tighten pl259s with pliers. I wiggle the plug so it sets into the mating grooves while tightening it with my fingers and never had them get loose. I think that’s where folks go wrong...when the plug doesn’t set into the grooves. I almost need pliers to remove the plug when disconnecting it. At least 60 years so far this works...
Chuck Jack KE9UW Sent from my iPhone, cjack > On May 1, 2019, at 11:46 AM, Jim Brown <[hidden email]> wrote: > >> On 5/1/2019 9:08 AM, Ron Durie wrote: >> Tightening inside PL259's with pliers is not desirable, because each Hams >> definition of "SNUG" occurs at different Torque levels. >> I want to use my hands to screw them on and off. > You may like that, but mother nature likes them tight. And she always wins. >> Also, when you have SO239 chassis mounted "Round" connectors (using one >> large lock washer), then pliers will loosen them every time. > > I'd call that equipment junk. > > 73, Jim K9YC > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Chuck, KE9UW
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Re: KPA1500 LOW GAIN FAULT
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I agree with your process Chuck. I have never read an Amphenol document that suggests anything other than hand tight.
Since the barrel is knurled and has no flats for a wrench it seems certain that a wrench was not what the designer had in mind. 73 - Mike - K9JRI > On May 1, 2019, at 2:19 PM, hawley, charles j jr <[hidden email]> wrote: > > I don’t tighten pl259s with pliers. I wiggle the plug so it sets into the mating grooves while tightening it with my fingers and never had them get loose. I think that’s where folks go wrong...when the plug doesn’t set into the grooves. I almost need pliers to remove the plug when disconnecting it. At least 60 years so far this works... > > Chuck Jack > KE9UW > > Sent from my iPhone, cjack > >>> On May 1, 2019, at 11:46 AM, Jim Brown <[hidden email]> wrote: >>> >>> On 5/1/2019 9:08 AM, Ron Durie wrote: >>> Tightening inside PL259's with pliers is not desirable, because each Hams >>> definition of "SNUG" occurs at different Torque levels. >>> I want to use my hands to screw them on and off. >> You may like that, but mother nature likes them tight. And she always wins. >>> Also, when you have SO239 chassis mounted "Round" connectors (using one >>> large lock washer), then pliers will loosen them every time. >> >> I'd call that equipment junk. >> >> 73, Jim K9YC >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:[hidden email] >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: KPA1500 LOW GAIN FAULT
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Yes but those are Amphenol connectors. Many "good looking"
connectors we buy today have really poor plating and poor machining tolerances. Thus all "look alike" connectors aren't the same. 10 in a bag for $10..........no thank you. 73 Bob, K4TAX On 5/1/2019 1:32 PM, Michael Blake via Elecraft wrote: > I agree with your process Chuck. I have never read an Amphenol document that suggests anything other than hand tight. > > Since the barrel is knurled and has no flats for a wrench it seems certain that a wrench was not what the designer had in mind. > > 73 - Mike - K9JRI > > > >> On May 1, 2019, at 2:19 PM, hawley, charles j jr <[hidden email]> wrote: >> >> I don’t tighten pl259s with pliers. I wiggle the plug so it sets into the mating grooves while tightening it with my fingers and never had them get loose. I think that’s where folks go wrong...when the plug doesn’t set into the grooves. I almost need pliers to remove the plug when disconnecting it. At least 60 years so far this works... >> >> Chuck Jack >> KE9UW >> >> Sent from my iPhone, cjack >> >>>> On May 1, 2019, at 11:46 AM, Jim Brown <[hidden email]> wrote: >>>> >>>> On 5/1/2019 9:08 AM, Ron Durie wrote: >>>> Tightening inside PL259's with pliers is not desirable, because each Hams >>>> definition of "SNUG" occurs at different Torque levels. >>>> I want to use my hands to screw them on and off. >>> You may like that, but mother nature likes them tight. And she always wins. >>>> Also, when you have SO239 chassis mounted "Round" connectors (using one >>>> large lock washer), then pliers will loosen them every time. >>> I'd call that equipment junk. >>> >>> 73, Jim K9YC >>> >>> ______________________________________________________________ >>> Elecraft mailing list >>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >>> Post: mailto:[hidden email] >>> >>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:[hidden email] >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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In reply to this post by Ron Durie
Some people who are actually interest in how a new KPA1500 could indicate a low gain fault keep opening these post to find they have absolutely nothing to do with the subject line.
How about an update on the low gain fault? Tightening connectors has been done to death in other threads. 73, Andy, k3wyc ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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In reply to this post by Bob McGraw - K4TAX
I do mostly use good adapters to bnc, but really, as I tighten to snug, then wiggle, the barrel turns farther, each time I wiggle. I think the points nestle down in the grooves a surprising amount. Try it.
Chuck Jack KE9UW Sent from my iPhone, cjack > On May 1, 2019, at 1:36 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Yes but those are Amphenol connectors. Many "good looking" connectors we buy today have really poor plating and poor machining tolerances. Thus all "look alike" connectors aren't the same. 10 in a bag for $10..........no thank you. > > 73 > > Bob, K4TAX > > >> On 5/1/2019 1:32 PM, Michael Blake via Elecraft wrote: >> I agree with your process Chuck. I have never read an Amphenol document that suggests anything other than hand tight. >> >> Since the barrel is knurled and has no flats for a wrench it seems certain that a wrench was not what the designer had in mind. >> >> 73 - Mike - K9JRI >> >> >> >>> On May 1, 2019, at 2:19 PM, hawley, charles j jr <[hidden email]> wrote: >>> >>> I don’t tighten pl259s with pliers. I wiggle the plug so it sets into the mating grooves while tightening it with my fingers and never had them get loose. I think that’s where folks go wrong...when the plug doesn’t set into the grooves. I almost need pliers to remove the plug when disconnecting it. At least 60 years so far this works... >>> >>> Chuck Jack >>> KE9UW >>> >>> Sent from my iPhone, cjack >>> >>>>> On May 1, 2019, at 11:46 AM, Jim Brown <[hidden email]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> On 5/1/2019 9:08 AM, Ron Durie wrote: >>>>> Tightening inside PL259's with pliers is not desirable, because each Hams >>>>> definition of "SNUG" occurs at different Torque levels. >>>>> I want to use my hands to screw them on and off. >>>> You may like that, but mother nature likes them tight. And she always wins. >>>>> Also, when you have SO239 chassis mounted "Round" connectors (using one >>>>> large lock washer), then pliers will loosen them every time. >>>> I'd call that equipment junk. >>>> >>>> 73, Jim K9YC >>>> >>>> ______________________________________________________________ >>>> Elecraft mailing list >>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email] >>>> >>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >>> ______________________________________________________________ >>> Elecraft mailing list >>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >>> Post: mailto:[hidden email] >>> >>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:[hidden email] >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Chuck, KE9UW
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In reply to this post by ke9uw
+1
On 5/1/2019 11:19 AM, hawley, charles j jr wrote: > I don’t tighten pl259s with pliers. I wiggle the plug so it sets into the mating grooves while tightening it with my fingers and never had them get loose. I think that’s where folks go wrong...when the plug doesn’t set into the grooves. I almost need pliers to remove the plug when disconnecting it. At least 60 years so far this works... > > Chuck Jack > KE9UW ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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In reply to this post by Ron Durie
Great advice.
73, Bill K9YEQ https://wrj-tech.com/ -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of Ron Durie Sent: Wednesday, May 1, 2019 11:08 AM To: [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] KPA1500 LOW GAIN FAULT Tightening inside PL259's with pliers is not desirable, because each Hams definition of "SNUG" occurs at different Torque levels. I want to use my hands to screw them on and off. Also, when you have SO239 chassis mounted "Round" connectors (using one large lock washer), then pliers will loosen them every time. What I do is, treat each connector center pin and threads with Caig DeOxit. I do this on all connectors. Now I can put them on and off by hand and there is no Oxidation causing High Impedance RF connections. I do the same on my outside connectors BUT I do also apply 2 inch lbs. of torque. This keeps them from working loose with vibration and prevents oxidation. Ron Durie WB4OOA Elecraft K-Line 704-843-3681 ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Re: KPA1500 LOW GAIN FAULT
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Administrator
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In reply to this post by Wes Stewart-2
Folks - We've drifted way off of the original thread. Let's close the thread now.
Eric /elecraft.com/ On 5/1/2019 12:56 PM, Wes wrote: > +1 > > On 5/1/2019 11:19 AM, hawley, charles j jr wrote: >> I don’t tighten pl259s with pliers. I wiggle the plug so it sets into the >> mating grooves while tightening it with my fingers and never had them get >> loose. I think that’s where folks go wrong...when the plug doesn’t set into >> the grooves. I almost need pliers to remove the plug when disconnecting it. >> At least 60 years so far this works... >> >> Chuck Jack >> KE9UW > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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