Figure 1. End View of Melted BNC Barrel Adapter
Abstract: I often solder wires
or components to BNC hardware to make voltage probes and magnetic loop
probes. The process usually goes smoothly, except this time. Who would
have guessed that the metal portion of BNC hardware could melt from the
heat of soldering!
Discussion: Figure 1 shows the
result of trying to solder a US AWG 16 brass wire to a BNC barrel
adapter to make a magnetic loop probe. Figure 2 shows another view.
Apparently, the metal from which the BNC barrel adapter was made had a
melting pointing not much different than solder.
This particular BNC barrel adapter was very inexpensive and not well
made. By looking into the opposite end of the barrel from the soldering
attempt, one could see little metal teeth making a press fit between
the center assembly and the inside of the barrel instead of the smooth
fit I usually see. I wonder how this piece of BNC hardware would
perform electrically as measured by a network analyzer (before the
melting)?
Figure 2. Another End View of Melted BNC Barrel Adapter
Remember
the old Latin saying "Caveat emptor"or "Let the buyer beware." If you
are going to solder to BNC hardware, be sure to use high quality
product.
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