john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
PL259's are not generally designed for the braid to be threaded through the hole and soldered. (Some PL259's when connected to thick coax need the braid soldered through the holes, but I have never seen this type of coax used on the average yacht) There are several designs of plug though and what you do depends on which one that you have.
If the PL259 has a reducer, thread the reducer onto the coax, strip back the outer casing to a point where there is enough central insulation to allow you to strip the central insulation back and the centre wire to protrude through the central pin when the thing is assembled. Compare lengths side by side, and it should be obvious how much is needed. Push the reducer up level with the end of the outer conductor and carefully fold the braid back over the reducer. Trim off excess braid (enough not to interfere with the thread on the reducer and plug). Screw the reducer into the PL259 (the braid should be trapped between the reducer and the plug evenly all round. Solder the inner conductor to the pin and trim off excess wire. (Some PL259's need the outer screw ring unscrewing and sliding back up the coax before you start any of the above - then sliding back down and screwing back onto the plug on completetion.)
Some (cheap and nasty) PL259's just rely on you stripping the coax and folding the outer braid back over the outer casing of the coax and screwing the whole lot into the PL259 (having stripped the inner to an appropriate length first etc ) Having to use this screwing action on the braid when you screw it into plug often frays and cuts the braid and can lead to a faulty joint.
If you want diagrams with dimensions for stripping the coax, ask and I can e-mail them to you.
Happy soldering! May all your mismatches be small ones...
John
If the PL259 has a reducer, thread the reducer onto the coax, strip back the outer casing to a point where there is enough central insulation to allow you to strip the central insulation back and the centre wire to protrude through the central pin when the thing is assembled. Compare lengths side by side, and it should be obvious how much is needed. Push the reducer up level with the end of the outer conductor and carefully fold the braid back over the reducer. Trim off excess braid (enough not to interfere with the thread on the reducer and plug). Screw the reducer into the PL259 (the braid should be trapped between the reducer and the plug evenly all round. Solder the inner conductor to the pin and trim off excess wire. (Some PL259's need the outer screw ring unscrewing and sliding back up the coax before you start any of the above - then sliding back down and screwing back onto the plug on completetion.)
Some (cheap and nasty) PL259's just rely on you stripping the coax and folding the outer braid back over the outer casing of the coax and screwing the whole lot into the PL259 (having stripped the inner to an appropriate length first etc ) Having to use this screwing action on the braid when you screw it into plug often frays and cuts the braid and can lead to a faulty joint.
If you want diagrams with dimensions for stripping the coax, ask and I can e-mail them to you.
Happy soldering! May all your mismatches be small ones...
John
