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Quick Start Guide N5511A-K26
Care and Maintenance
Care and Maintenance
Connector Care
Visual Inspection
Visual inspection and, if necessary, cleaning should be done every time a connection is made.
Metal particles from connector threads may fall into the connector when it is disconnected. One
connection made with a dirty or damaged connector can damage both connectors beyond repair.
Magnification is helpful when inspecting connectors, but it is not required and may actually be
misleading. Defects and damage that cannot be seen without magnification generally have no
effect on electrical or mechanical performance. Magnification is of great use in analyzing the nature
and cause of damage and in cleaning connectors, but it is not required for inspection.
Obvious defects or damage
Examine the connectors first for obvious defects or damage:
Plating
— Bare metal showing
— Burrs or blisters
Deformed threads
Center conductors
— Bent
— Broken
— Misaligned
— Concentricity
Connector nuts should move smoothly and be free of:
— Burrs
— Loose metal particles
— Rough spots
Any connector that has obvious defects should be replaced.
Connector Contacts
Inspect the connector contacts for integrity. It is necessary to use good lighting (such as a halogen
task light) to see the contacts.
Notice the location of the cross hairs in relationship to the center of the figures.
