Stainless steel N connector.
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Michael Scott
Hi All
I am looking for a four hole mounting female N connector in stainless steel ( if such a thing exists ) to replace the one on a helix feed to my QO-100 uplink antenna. After a year, the silver plated brass connector is heavily corroded where it is mounted on the aluminium reflector plate. It was originally built for Oscar 40 and wasn't intended for permanent outdoor mounting. The alternative is to replace the aluminium plate with stainless steel and reuse the brass connector. If anyone can help it would be appreciated! 73, Mike, G3LYP.
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Mark GM4ISM
Mike
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Stainless steel onto Aluminium is probably worse! Any dissimilar metals will exhibit electrolytic corrosion over time. One solution is to coat the mating surfaces in a corrosion inhibiting compound. Bicon X1 is excellent, as is Unial, however the latter fell out of favour with my company as it is slightly more hazardous. You should not eat either! Read the COSHH sheets! These pastes really work very well (like thermal paste you don't want too much) and significantly extend the working life of components Mark GM4ISM
On 22/10/2020 12:48, Michael Scott via groups.io wrote:
Hi All
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Michael Scott
Thanks Mark, that's useful to know. I have just ordered a tube of Bicon X1.
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73, Mike.
On 22/10/2020 12:59, Mark GM4ISM via groups.io wrote:
Mike
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Colin Ranson
Mike, there are Nickel plated ones around I believe, I ‘ve had a look but mine are all silver plated.
Regards
Colin de G8LBS.
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
From: Michael Scott via groups.io
Sent: 22 October 2020 12:48 To: UKMicrowaves@groups.io Subject: [UKMicrowaves] Stainless steel N connector.
Hi All
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Richard GD8EXI
Stainless Steel is a particularly bad conductor of electricity, 40 times worse than copper, 10 times worse than Nickel and only 1.7 times better than nichrom, as used in resistance wire! So I doubt you will find Stainless steel N type plugs.
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I use nickel plated N Types on boats with good results but not mounted on aluminium. Some jointing compounds e.g. Duralac create an open circuit across the joint however Bicon should be fine. 73s Richard GD8EXI
On 22/10/2020, 16:02, "Michael Scott via groups.io" <g3lyp@...> wrote:
> Thanks Mark, that's useful to know. I have just ordered a tube of Bicon X1. > > 73, Mike. > > On 22/10/2020 12:59, Mark GM4ISM via groups.io wrote: >> Mike >> >> Stainless steel onto Aluminium is probably worse! >> >> Any dissimilar metals will exhibit electrolytic corrosion over time. >> >> One solution is to coat the mating surfaces in a corrosion inhibiting >> compound. Bicon X1 is excellent, as is Unial, however the latter fell >> out of favour with my company as it is slightly more hazardous. You >> should not eat either! Read the COSHH sheets! >> >> These pastes really work very well (like thermal paste you don't want >> too much) and significantly extend the working life of components >> >> Mark GM4ISM >> >> On 22/10/2020 12:48, Michael Scott via groups.io wrote: >>> Hi All >>> >>> I am looking for a four hole mounting female N connector in stainless >>> steel ( if such a thing exists ) to replace the one on a helix feed >>> to my QO-100 uplink antenna. After a year, the silver plated brass >>> connector is heavily corroded where it is mounted on the aluminium >>> reflector plate. It was originally built for Oscar 40 and wasn't >>> intended for permanent outdoor mounting. >>> >>> The alternative is to replace the aluminium plate with stainless >>> steel and reuse the brass connector. >>> >>> If anyone can help it would be appreciated! >>> >>> 73, Mike, G3LYP. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> > > > > >
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On Thu, 22 Oct 2020 at 18:24, Richard GD8EXI <perwick@...> wrote:
Stainless steel RF connectors are quite common. Dave
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Paul G8AQA
Bicon X1 finds it's main use for joining copper
and aluminium also aluminium and aluminium in power distribution.
Although tested with a meter it may seem non conductive it has
zinc particles. I have taken to using it for assembling antennas.
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https://www.jointingtech.co.uk/Download/BX1-225.pdf Paul G8AQA
On 22/10/2020 18:24, Richard GD8EXI
wrote:
Stainless Steel is a particularly bad conductor of electricity, 40 times worse than copper, 10 times worse than Nickel and only 1.7 times better than nichrom, as used in resistance wire! So I doubt you will find Stainless steel N type plugs.
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Neil Smith G4DBN
Hi Mike, TE/AMP make passivated stainless steel bodied N sockets rated to 11 GHz https://www.te.com/global-en/product-1058644-1.datasheet.pdf https://www.farnell.com/cad/1663522.pdf They also do nickel-plated stainless. Furiously expensive of course. £34 + vat from RS, much more
spendy from Farnell H&S also do some which are at even MORE coin: https://www.mouser.co.uk/datasheet/2/829/HUBER_2bSUHNER_24_N_50_3_5119__NE_DataSheet-1530079.pdf Neil G4DBN
On 22/10/2020 18:22, Colin Ranson
wrote:
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John Lemay
Returning to Mikes original question – why did the silver plated brass connector corrode where it is in contact with aluminium ?
I’m not well versed in these matters but I thought it would be the aluminium corroding.
Certainly, stainless steel and aluminium is not advised – but there are so many different alloys of each that you need to know more about the composition of each material.
John G4ZTR
From: UKMicrowaves@groups.io [mailto:UKMicrowaves@groups.io] On Behalf Of Neil Smith G4DBN
Sent: 22 October 2020 20:03 To: UKMicrowaves@groups.io Subject: Re: [UKMicrowaves] Stainless steel N connector.
Hi Mike, TE/AMP make passivated stainless steel bodied N sockets rated to 11 GHz https://www.te.com/global-en/product-1058644-1.datasheet.pdf https://www.farnell.com/cad/1663522.pdf They also do nickel-plated stainless. Furiously expensive of course. £34 + vat from RS, much more spendy from Farnell H&S also do some which are at even MORE coin: https://www.mouser.co.uk/datasheet/2/829/HUBER_2bSUHNER_24_N_50_3_5119__NE_DataSheet-1530079.pdf Neil G4DBN On 22/10/2020 18:22, Colin Ranson wrote:
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Gordon REASON
I have some , N female , I think that they are Nickel Plated , but I can't find them at the moment .......I will keep looking ................
On 22 October 2020 at 20:18 John Lemay <john@...> wrote:
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Mark GM4ISM
Looking at the galvanic potential of different metals, silver vs aluminium actually has a higher differential than stainless steel and aluminium. I don't know of many examples of this combination in professional
antenna systems, perhaps there is a good reason for that. The most common issue I see is with stainless and aluminium,
usually it is bolts or screws as fasteners in exterior cast or
sheet aluminium antenna components. The anodic metal (usually the aluminium) is the part that suffers the worst damage and oxidation. The silvered N connector may not have suffered much actual corrosion itself but the build-up of aluminium oxide from the corrosion of the aluminium beneath can still do significant damage as the oxide layer grows and stresses the assembly mechanically. These reactions are thermodynamically inevitable but the reaction can slow down to a crawl with the right conditions. Mark ISM
On 22/10/2020 20:18, John Lemay wrote:
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Michael Scott
Hi Neil Many thanks for the information, and from the many others who responded on this topic! I have decided to follow Mark's original suggestion and use Bicon as the simplest solution. I am hoping to receive a tube in the next few days. Luckily, the dish feed is near ground level so It is easy to remove for servicing without the need for ladders which are a no no for me these days! Thanks again for all the comments received. 73, Mike, G3LYP.
On 22/10/2020 20:03, Neil Smith G4DBN
wrote:
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John E. Beech
Gold plated ones any good? ( Probably make the aluminium corrode even faster.)
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de John G8SEQ
-------Original Message-------
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Colin Ranson
Hi John,
Funny you should mention gold plated N. I have a couple of gold plated N plugs with RG316 size entry, I expect they are literally like the proverbial ? been sitting in my drawer for years, reluctant to use them !
Regards and keep safe one and all,
Colin G8LBS.
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
From: John E. Beech
Sent: 23 October 2020 10:02 To: UKMicrowaves@groups.io Subject: Re: [UKMicrowaves] Stainless steel N connector.
Gold plated ones any good? ( Probably make the aluminium corrode even faster.)
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Paul G8AQA
Gold and aluminium - purple plague. Discovered
this when soldering gold O rings using aluminium as a jig. The
gold disappeared into the aluminium leaving a purple residue. It
is also a problem with transistors and ICs.
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Paul G8AQA
On 23/10/2020 10:02, John E. Beech
wrote:
Gold plated ones any good? ( Probably make the aluminium corrode even faster.) de John G8SEQ-------Original Message------- From: Dr. David Kirkby, Kirkby Microwave Ltd <drkirkby@...> To: UKMicrowaves@groups.io <UKMicrowaves@groups.io> Subject: Re: [UKMicrowaves] Stainless steel N connector. Sent: Oct 22 '20 18:39 On Thu, 22 Oct 2020 at 18:24, Richard GD8EXI <perwick@...> wrote: > Stainless Steel is a particularly bad conductor of electricity, 40 > times worse than copper, 10 times worse than Nickel and only 1.7 > times better than nichrom, as used in resistance wire! So I doubt > you will find Stainless steel N type plugs. > > I use nickel plated N Types on boats with good results but not > mounted on aluminium. > > Some jointing compounds e.g. Duralac create an open circuit across > the joint however Bicon should be fine. > > 73s > Richard > GD8EXI Stainless steel RF connectors are quite common. Dave
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I noted that for some years Radiall connectors are available with "BBR" plating, a form of bronze. According to their publicity (of course) it is better than anything else considering cost, corrosion, toxicity, loss, PIM etc.
The point is, I think, it looks rather like nickel plating, but if it is on a Radall connector it probably is BBR. https://www.radiall.com/media/Guide%20BBR%20D1030DE.pdf
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ian hope (2E0IJH)
Stainless is avalible but not cheep, https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/7455081/
Have used them in Marine situations
Ian
M5IJH
Sent: Friday, October 23, 2020 at 10:40 AM
From: "Ken G3YKI" <kenneth@...> To: UKMicrowaves@groups.io Subject: Re: [UKMicrowaves] Stainless steel N connector. I noted that for some years Radiall connectors are available with "BBR" plating, a form of bronze. According to their publicity (of course) it is better than anything else considering cost, corrosion, toxicity, loss, PIM etc.
The point is, I think, it looks rather like nickel plating, but if it is on a Radall connector it probably is BBR. https://www.radiall.com/media/Guide%20BBR%20D1030DE.pdf
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Hi All As others have shown, they do exist. Try FC Lane / Lane Electronics, on 01403 790661 They do a lot of connectors, and whilst I think Huber & Suhner are overrated, FC Lane are the official distributors for H&S. I paid £35 a couple of years ago for stainless steel N that are hermetically sealed. H&S were the only manufacturer I could find for them - or at least were obtainable. Lane Electronics were the only source I could find. They are single hole mounting though. I would have preferred 4-hole myself, but could not find any N hermetically sealed. But since you don’t require hermetically sealed, you should have a far wider choice. Dave. If anyone can help it would be appreciated! Dr. David Kirkby, Kirkby Microwave Ltd, drkirkby@... https://www.kirkbymicrowave.co.uk/ Telephone 01621-680100./ +44 1621 680100 Registered in England & Wales, company number 08914892. Registered office: Stokes Hall Lodge, Burnham Rd, Althorne, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 6DT, United Kingdom
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Michael Scott
John You are right, it was the ali which coroded where it was in contact with the silver plated brass. Brushing the connector with a steel brush cleaned it up well! A dip in Goddards silver dip made it like new! 73, Mike.
On 22/10/2020 20:18, John Lemay wrote:
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