Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
Ray Swan (NV2A)
on
June 4, 2008
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So I'm gearing up to get back on the air. I found a used Johnson LowPass filter on eBay. When it comes I notice the connectors are black. That's good and it's bad! Good in that they are silver plated but bad in that I doubt the connection quality.
I have this Ultra Sonic cleaner that I purchased at Harbor Freight for a song and a dance with a little green sprinkled in. I put half water and half Ammonia from the laundry department of the supermarket in the thing and then dangle in the end of the filter to just cover the bottom connector. It comes out looking pretty good! So I dumped all my other connectors in they also came out looking great after a little brushing up with a stainless steel tooth brush! I figure to let this connectors sit in the sun for awhile to make sure they are all dried out before using them.
If you're interested in one of those ultra sonic cleaners I paid something $59.00 for mine. I had to return the first one because it quit on me after a few days. I suspected line issues so I put one of those cheap suppressor computer cubes in the wall socket and this one has given me no problems. You should see what they do to eyeglasses, jewelry and other small items!
Found these connectors on eBay and they were pretty cheap. Well they were cheap on both counts, monetarily and construction wise!
The adapters would not fit the PL259. I've never had an easy time of using PL259's with adapters but this was ridicules. I actually ended up busting the connector by using two pair of pliers and the adapter was nowhere near seated. These are all I have to work with at this time so I tried to fix them. I took out a 7/16 - 14 tpi thread cutter and had to clean them all up! Now they work, but, I still got cheap connectors. HI HI
73
Ray - NV2A
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Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by KU4UV on June 4, 2008
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One word for cleaning corroided and dirty connectors, DeoxIT. Nuff said.
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Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by KF4HR on June 4, 2008
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Thanks for the Ultrasonic Cleaner tip. It would be interesting to see if that would work on used heliax connectors.
KF4HR
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RE: Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by K0BG on June 4, 2008
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Caution should be exercised when using De-Ox, Dip-It, and similar products. All of them contain a string alkali, and although they typically attack only the oxide of the base metal, they will attack zinc, aluminum, and some precious metals.
Deionized water should be used to rinse parts, or you'll end up with even more of a mess than you started with. This goes for ammonia as well, especially the sudsy kind.
In the case of silver oxide, it looks unsightly, but really isn't something to worry about connection wise.
Alan, KØBG
www.k0bg.com
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RE: Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by K4RAF on June 4, 2008
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A stainless steel "toothbrush"???
I have seen the brass brushes but stainless has escaped me...
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RE: Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by V73NS on June 4, 2008
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The tarnish on silver is conductive and DOES NOT need to be removed. That's the beauty of silver.
Attacking it with a wire brush likely did more damage than good.
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RE: Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by KE7AXC on June 4, 2008
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Small stainless "toothbrushes" are available at welding supply places. I know welders use them to clean aluminum prior to welding. Nice to have around the house because they're more more "aggressive" than brass when you need it, but they don't rust like a steel brush.
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RE: Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by W4DL on June 4, 2008
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I am refurbishing a Drake tuner and after a few cleanings of the SO-239's with De Oxit, I'm still not satisfied with the results. This piece came from a smokers shack but never the less, the connectors are not coming clean enough for my taste and the mating with the PL 259's is still not smooth. The solution is new Amphenol SO-239's. The ultrasonic cleaner devices work well on many items; not on the trigger of a Colt Gold cup however; ruined it!
Good DX!
Mike W4DL
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Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by KF4WXD on June 4, 2008
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The black sulphide coating on silver connectors is as if not more conductive that the pure silver. Chemical silver cleaners will remove a bit of the silver, which is why they are not recommended for fine silver jewelery or flatware. Stainless steel brushes are also a bit aggressive for electronics.
I'd love to know what an ultrasonic claner did to that Gold Cup trigger.
Russ
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RE: Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by AH6RR on June 4, 2008
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When the Silver connectors get black I break out the "Corrosion Block" or "Corrosion-X". These 2 products work like a charm. They were invented for the Marine enviroment to cut corrosion on just about every thing including electronic circuit boards. You can spray it on any Circuit board including computers with out any worry of problems for years to come. Plus they have lubericating properties that work great on guns. I also want to know what happend to the Gold Cup trigger.
73 and Great DX
Roland AH6RR
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RE: Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by W3LK on June 4, 2008
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<< The ultrasonic cleaner devices work well on many items; not on the trigger of a Colt Gold cup however; ruined it! >>
What liquid did you have in the cleaner? I can't imagine any common cleaning solution harming steel.
73,
Lon - W3LK
Naugatuck, Connecticut
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RE: Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by NV2A on June 4, 2008
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thanks for the info on the silver oxide not being a big problem with connections.
My stainless steel "toothbrush" came from a welding supply house and is used for aluminum primarily. I also use brass brushes for various uses in the shop.
I bought the ultra sonic cleaner for my machine shop and have been very happy with it considering I only have $59.00 in it.
Can't imagine my cleaner with ammonia and water in it doing any damage to a Gold Cup trigger. If you put chlorine like Ajax or something in it then it wasn't the ultrasonic cleaner that ruined your trigger, it was the chlorine product you added to it. I have cleaned all the family jewelry and no problems using my regular mix of ammonia and water.
It should be noted too that many of these items are not really "silver plated" but rather "FLASH Silver Plated which is much thinner then conventional plating. Same with electronic gold connectors. My friend who works in the business says good contacts should only be cleaned with a "pink pearl eraser" such as found on the end of your common pencil.
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Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by N5EG on June 4, 2008
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Silver Oxide is an insulator, and Silver Sulfide is a very poor conductor (actually a semiconductor).
From material resistivity tables:
Silver: 0.000000016 ohm-meter
Copper: 0.000000017 ohm-meter
Silver Sulfide: 0.0015 ohm-meter
Silver Oxide: 1000000000 ohm-meter
However the tarnish on a silver-plated connector is not normally an electrical problem, because the tarnish and underlying silver are very soft. Tightening the connector breaks through the film to establish good electrical contact.
-- Tom, N5EG
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RE: Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by W8HQ on June 4, 2008
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The tarnish on silver connectors is not silver Oxide, but is Silver Sulfide which is NOT CONDUCTIVE and is invasive and will work it's way through the silver plating attacking the base connector material (usually a brass alloy).
The Silver Sulfide "Tarnish" can come from the sulfur in the environment (paper and humidity!)
Silver Oxide is not Black.
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Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by KE4ZHN on June 4, 2008
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Almost $60 for the cleaner, and this isnt counting the cleaning solutions. I can buy a lot of connectors for that much money. Why bother cleaning old junk when you can simply replace the crappy connector?
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RE: Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by AC5UP on June 4, 2008
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WD-40 can float the tarnish from a silver plated connector.
Spray it, let it soak in for a few minutes, wipe clean with a paper towel or tissue. Done. Repeat if heavily tarnished or you have too much spare time on your hands.
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RE: Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by K3AN on June 4, 2008
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For the last time, DON'T REMOVE TARNISH FROM SILVER PLATED CONNECTORS! No matter how you do it, it's the wrong thing to do.
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Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by KE4DRN on June 4, 2008
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hi,
take a glass tray or coffee cup,
place a small sheet of aluminum foil
on the bottom, fill with clear vinegar,
add a dash of table salt and stir.
place your tarnished connectors on
the aluminum foil and check them
every hour or so.
you will notice the tarnish has
migrated to the sheet of aluminum foil
and the connectors look as new.
73 james
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RE: Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by NV2A on June 4, 2008
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KE4ZHN I didn't buy this cleaner to clean the connectors. I bought it to clean anything that is dirty from my eye glasses to our jewelry and carburator parts for a lawnmower. It's a darn handy tool to have in the shop.
KE4ZHN, thanks for the recipe! I knew there was a simple formula but could never find it.
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RE: Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by KE4ZHN on June 5, 2008
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I suppose if you get that much use out of the cleaner its worth having. You may wish to thank KE4DRN for his recipe, I didnt provide one.
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Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by KC0RBX on June 5, 2008
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N5EG, thanks for the conductivity tables, you saved me a google trip. In all my years as a master electrician and messing with electronics and reading books, the one thing I always come away with is the old saying, "Corrosion is our enemy." Tarnish is the result of a chemical reaction which is less conductive than silver. What the author of this article did was innovative! The poster who said DO NOT CLEAN, huh, WHY? And to the recipe guy, thanks. It is neat to read innovative articles which spark more ideas. That is the old American Way. Something sticks in the mud seem to miss.
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Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by WA3SKN on June 9, 2008
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Yes, silver tarnish is conductive, but not nearly as conductive as silver... don't rely on it for a conductor.
The aluminum, vinegar, and salt trick is great because it does not remove any silver in the process.
With some poor plating techniques, wire brushes can remove the plating. Good connectors are worth it!
But with all the chemical techniques mentioned, I would recommend first a baking soda and water rinse, then a distilled water rinse, then dry.
-Mike.
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Connectors and Ultrasonic Cleaners
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by W4YBO on June 23, 2008
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Find stainless steel "toothbrushes" at a welding supply shop.
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