Qs about esd and BNC connectors

Hi all.
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.    

Building #4758 now.  Man, some of the parts are incredibly tiny!!  Last
kit I built was a Heathkit, when parts could be identified with the naked
eye!  I find a small illuminated handheld magnifier to be a great help.  
 
By the way, I'm using a new HAKKO 936-12 ESD solder stn., and it is
excellent.  Got it from Kiesub, who gave me a  good price ($79.95) and
they seem eager to please.  Free shipping on orders of $100 and more.  

Tnx,
George, n4ym
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[Ron D'Eau Claire-2]

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


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[Stuart Rohre]

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



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[Bob Nielsen]

> 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

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[Stuart Rohre]

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



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