PL259 - Can get center wires through tapered sleeve

[mikebikeboy]

I bought some Ancor PL259 male plugs and can't seem to get the center wire of the coax through the center sleeve of the plug. For some reason it's tapered and the wires won't come through.

Anyone know how these are supposed to be put together?

I'm using RG8X coax and the connectors are specked for that size. Why is the center pin plug sleeve tapered like that?

[mikebikeboy]

I cut 6 strands from the center wire and it fit through the tiny hole. Not sure why they made the hole so tiny.

[Time2Go]

I’d triple check the specs
Not all wire manufacturers adhere to
exact specs either.
I’d try tightening the wind of the center
conductor and or gently reaming the
center sleeve to create a flair.
If this is not a crimp connector but a solder
connector then something is definitely
incorrect.
Cheers
Neil

[mikebikeboy]

Hi Neil,

It's a twist on connector, and only the tip is to be soldered. It's made by Ancor and the wire I bought is also Ancor.

I'll try twisting the center wires tighter to see if I can get it to git with all strands.

[Pete7]

I would buy another connector that is the right size.

Not worth faffing around with.

Pete

[S/V Illusion]

Originally Posted by mikebikeboy

Hi Neil,

It's a twist on connector, and only the tip is to be soldered. It's made by Ancor and the wire I bought is also Ancor.

I'll try twisting the center wires tighter to see if I can get it to git with all strands.

Correct. This isn’t the traditional PL 259 but rather some hybrid to make it easier for those incapable of proper soldering. You would be best served trashing it in favor of the correct PL259.

Trying to make a “square peg fit in a round hole” is silly -and reducing the number of center conductor wires to accommodate the wrong connector can change the characteristic impedance potentially as well as weakening the connection practically.

[mikebikeboy]

I tried twisting the center wire much tigher, and also ream out the tiny hole with a 1/16 drill bit. It took off the slightest amount of material, but it worked. No cutting extra strands.

[Time2Go]

All twist on connectors are for emergency field
repairs, Just plain not suitable for fixed installs.
You are building yourself a future problem with these
suckers. 40 years of Film and Video studio
experience talking here.
Solder or Crimp only way to go.
Of course utilizing the proper prep,
solder or crimp dies.
Cheers
Neil

[mikebikeboy]

Is this the proper one?

https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?id=152997#

[S/V Illusion]

Originally Posted by mikebikeboy

Is this the proper one?

https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?id=152997#

Yes...

[S/V Illusion]

Originally Posted by mikebikeboy

I tried twisting the center wire much tigher, and also ream out the tiny hole with a 1/16 drill bit. It took off the slightest amount of material, but it worked. No cutting extra strands.

Wasn’t worth the effort - the female SO259 into which this connector fits isn’t a proper fit for this thing. Only a proper PL259 will make good contact with the female counterpart.

[deblen]

Originally Posted by mikebikeboy

I tried twisting the center wire much tigher, and also ream out the tiny hole with a 1/16 drill bit. It took off the slightest amount of material, but it worked. No cutting extra strands.

That type of PL259 was designed for screw fit & crimping of center pin.
Soldering it will work fine-from experience. / Len

[mikebikeboy]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

Wasn’t worth the effort - the female SO259 into which this connector fits isn’t a proper fit for this thing. Only a proper PL259 will make good contact with the female counterpart.

What is the fitting I bought for, if it doesn't work with the female side? Is it just garbage that I paid money for or what?

[mikebikeboy]

I'm all ears if anyone can point me to a good supplier of quality PL259 connectors

Also, wondering about. Previous owner had a female coupler inside the base of the mast but I'm considering running the coax straight from antenna to the radio with no breaks. I'll leave a few feet of extra cable inside the boat, so when taking mast down, I'll snip and then just install another PL259

Is that common or should I just do the female coupler again in the base of mast

I prefer less connections

[deblen]

Originally Posted by mikebikeboy

I'm all ears if anyone can point me to a good supplier of quality PL259 connectors

Also, wondering about. Previous owner had a female coupler inside the base of the mast but I'm considering running the coax straight from antenna to the radio with no breaks. I'll leave a few feet of extra cable inside the boat, so when taking mast down, I'll snip and then just install another PL259

Is that common or should I just do the female coupler again in the base of mast

I prefer less connections

I suggest it is best to have PL259-SO239-PL259 coupling just inside the boat & use a ThruDex,or some similar waterproof deck gland.The loss in a sailboat length of coax with a proper coupling is negligably different than a continuous coax,& much more convenient.
That is what I learned in 30yrs experience of making thousands of this connection in our commercial fish fleet. Just my practical experience & tested with my Bird wattmeter.
Have a read thru this recent CF thread. Cheers/Len


https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...59-236633.html