U9361C/F/G/M RCal Receiver Calibrator Measurement Guide
61
Appendix: Connector Care
Appendix: Connector Care
Making Connections
Good connections require a skilled operator. Instrument sensitivity and coaxial connector
mechanical tolerances are such that slight errors in operator technique can have a significant effect
on measurements and measurement uncertainties.
The most common cause of measurement error is with poor connections.
Connection Procedure
1.
Ground yourself and all devices (wear a grounded wrist strap and work on an antistatic mat).
2.
Visually inspect the connectors (refer to Visual Inspection).
3.
If necessary, clean the connectors (refer to Cleaning Connectors).
4.
Carefully align the connectors. The male connector center pin must slip concentrically into the
contact fingers of the female connector.
5.
Push the connectors straight together. Do not twist or screw them together. As the center
conductors mate, there is usually a slight resistance.
6.
Initial tightening can be done by hand or with an open-end wrench. Tighten until "snug" or
where the connectors are first making contact. The preliminary connection is tight enough
when the mating plane surfaces make uniform, light contact. Do not over tighten this
connection. At this point, all you want is for the outer conductors to make gentle contact on
both mating surfaces. Use very light finger pressure (no more than 2 inch-pounds of torque).
7.
Relieve any side pressure on the connection from long or heavy devices or cables. This assures
consistent torque.
8.
Torque the cable or device to the final value using a torque wrench.
Cleaning Connectors
1.
Inspect the connectors for dust, dirt, metal fragment, oils or film, and debris.
2.
Blow off any dust with a filtered, clean supply of compressed air.
3.
Add a few drops of high-purity isopropyl alcohol to a small cleaning swab (do not apply
Do
not
twist one connector into the other (like inserting a light bulb). This happens when you
turn the device body, rather than the connector nut. Major
damage
to the center conductor and
the outer conductor can occur if the device body is twisted.
