N type connectors, panel mount, sealing them
N type connectors, panel mount, sealing them
(OP)
Can someone recommend a sealed N type bulkhead mounted connector or a method to seal the Teflon side.
I need an N-female to bulkhead/panel mount with solder pot, hence the panel mount side typically is a piece of Teflon that captivates the center conductor. I have some from Pasternack already, but we have concerns about the Teflon loosening over a 5-10 year period. It's inside a 4 foot cube sized box which sits outdoors in the California desert (110F summer temp). I was considering just spray coating the Teflon/Solder pot side with conformal coating to help capture it, but I'm not sure if that is adequate.
Any thoughts or recommendations?
Thanks
kch
I need an N-female to bulkhead/panel mount with solder pot, hence the panel mount side typically is a piece of Teflon that captivates the center conductor. I have some from Pasternack already, but we have concerns about the Teflon loosening over a 5-10 year period. It's inside a 4 foot cube sized box which sits outdoors in the California desert (110F summer temp). I was considering just spray coating the Teflon/Solder pot side with conformal coating to help capture it, but I'm not sure if that is adequate.
Any thoughts or recommendations?
Thanks
kch
RE: N type connectors, panel mount, sealing them
A better trick would be to go with a hermetic N connector that employs a glass to metal seal, probably the glass seal soldered into the case with a field replaceable N.
In connectors that you just want to keep clean from high power arc over, you can fill with a dielectric paste.
RE: N type connectors, panel mount, sealing them
Another possiblity would be a dielectric grease which many field technicians apply inside the connector to keep moisture out. Check out Silchem (www.silchemmarketing.com).
RE: N type connectors, panel mount, sealing them
TTFN
RE: N type connectors, panel mount, sealing them
Glass captivated center conductors are hermetic sealed and I believe would be better. Our cables have a moisture seal in them.
kch
RE: N type connectors, panel mount, sealing them
You had better explain more about what you are doing. Sealing up your cable will just trap any outgassing from the cable materials, and probably make things worse. Cell phone tower designers use desicators or nitrogen positive pressure systems to keep water out of their high power feeds.
RE: N type connectors, panel mount, sealing them
I would recheck what part number Pasternack connectors you have. I have some of these PE4137 connectors I bought 2 years ago. They have no teflon - just a grey/green glass through which the center pin/solder cup passes.
RE: N type connectors, panel mount, sealing them
OK, I feel really silly now. Comcokid, the part number you referred to is what I was looking for.
Correction, I feel silly, but quite good.
Thanks Comcokid,
Kevin
biff44, I believe that if you connect cable with an N male connector to an N female panel mount who's center conductor is captivated by a leaky Teflon (suppose the Teflon was perforated, or just cracked), then moisture, salt and small bugs, etc. pass through this N-female into the Teflon mating surface between the two connectors. We are making an antenna for high power radar testing. Crap on that interface isn't good and only Noah likes an Arc while he's working. The normal environmental seal between N-m and N-f bulkhead connector is only good if the N-f bulkhead is sealed well, i.e. hermetically sealed, and the moisture seal/oring in the N-m works well. I was fine with the standard Teflon, and planned to conformal coat and captivate it, but co-workers wanted a higher level of protection, hence the hermetic need.
RE: N type connectors, panel mount, sealing them
An additional method of sealing is to get some glue-lined heatshrink such as Daburn SM278-1" to shrink over the completed connection (available from Digikey).
RE: N type connectors, panel mount, sealing them
RE: N type connectors, panel mount, sealing them
The hermetically sealed approach was a request/demand. I am actually comfortable with just gooping the present Teflon puppies.
T hermetically sealed PE4137 connectors are only $8 each, which is nice. Maybe I'll have them gold plated if needed, or find some others that are already gold plated. Maybe add some dielectric goop and heatshrink too.
thanks all for the info,
kch
RE: N type connectors, panel mount, sealing them