f plugs: zinc or brass?

[re...@to.newsgroup.invalid]

Hello,

I was looking to buy some f plugs, coax to f type adaptors, couples,
etc. and see that they are available in nickel plated brass or zinc.
Is there any difference?

Google said zinc was softer and would wear but I'm not sure whether
they are pure zinc or an alloy; the latter might be more durable? For
domestic use where they are not going to be unplugged repeatedly, I
can't see this is an issue; is it?

Thanks,
Stephen.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

In article <bv8rb9ta05qm9jng6...@4ax.com>,

I'd guess the zinc is zinc alloy which casts easily - Mazak or something -
and also breaks easily. But cheaper than brass. Unless there really is a
big difference in price which is critical I'd get the brass ones.

--
*Age is a very high price to pay for maturity.

Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

[ne...@address.invalid]

On Fri, 27 Dec 2013 16:16:58 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)"
<da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

>In article <bv8rb9ta05qm9jng6...@4ax.com>,
> <re...@to.newsgroup.invalid> wrote:
>> I was looking to buy some f plugs, coax to f type adaptors, couples,
>> etc. and see that they are available in nickel plated brass or zinc.
>> Is there any difference?
>
>> Google said zinc was softer and would wear but I'm not sure whether
>> they are pure zinc or an alloy; the latter might be more durable? For
>> domestic use where they are not going to be unplugged repeatedly, I
>> can't see this is an issue; is it?
>
>I'd guess the zinc is zinc alloy which casts easily - Mazak or something -
>and also breaks easily. But cheaper than brass. Unless there really is a
>big difference in price which is critical I'd get the brass ones.
>

I would personally avoid the zinc ones in case there is corrosion on
the thread contact with the socket due to dissimilar metals. The brass
has got to be a better bet unless the cost is really critical.

[PeterC]

On Fri, 27 Dec 2013 16:16:58 +0000 (GMT), Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

> In article <bv8rb9ta05qm9jng6...@4ax.com>,
> <re...@to.newsgroup.invalid> wrote:
>> I was looking to buy some f plugs, coax to f type adaptors, couples,
>> etc. and see that they are available in nickel plated brass or zinc.
>> Is there any difference?
>
>> Google said zinc was softer and would wear but I'm not sure whether
>> they are pure zinc or an alloy; the latter might be more durable? For
>> domestic use where they are not going to be unplugged repeatedly, I
>> can't see this is an issue; is it?
>
> I'd guess the zinc is zinc alloy which casts easily - Mazak or something -
> and also breaks easily. But cheaper than brass. Unless there really is a
> big difference in price which is critical I'd get the brass ones.

+1
My last lot came from Screwfix and seemed to be pretty good quality (a
couple of years ago). Read the reviews - I can't remember what it was
exactly, but there was something about the description not being accurate
and another sort was needed (for my purpose).
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway

[Bill Wright]

Brass for screw-on, aluminium for crimps.

Bill

[Jim Lesurf]

In article <bv8rb9ta05qm9jng6...@4ax.com>,
<re...@to.newsgroup.invalid> wrote:

Zinc alloy may be cheaper to make, but more prone to break or deteriorate.

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scots_Guide/intro/electron.htm
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

[re...@to.newsgroup.invalid]

On Fri, 27 Dec 2013 21:17:46 +0000, Bill Wright <bi...@invalid.com>
wrote:

>Brass for screw-on, aluminium for crimps.
>
>Bill

Brass it will be then. Thanks everyone.

BTW the costs are more or less the same for brass or zinc (the
difference is pennies), so no reason to choose on the basis of cost.

Thanks,
Stephen.

[re...@to.newsgroup.invalid]

PS I was looking at the CPC web site. Why is it that an adaptor that
has an f socket on one end and a coax socket on the other end is only
25 pence but to go from an f socket to a coax plug is over a pound? I
expected the plug option would be more popular considering that tvs
and recorders require a plug input but I suppose people use the right
plug rather than use an adaptor.

What doesn't help is that there is not one name for the plugs (and
sockets) that are traditionally used for televisions. On cpc I have
seen uhf, coax, and pal all used as different words for the same
thing.

Thanks,
Stephen.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

In article <f2vtb918kr6q6hife...@4ax.com>,

They were traditionally known as Belling-Lee connectors. Perhaps they
still exist and object to that name being used apart from genuine ones.

IMHO, they are one of the nastiest connectors around. Right up there with
SCART and DIN. ;-)

--
*Ham and Eggs: Just a day's work for a chicken, but a lifetime commitment

[dennis@home]

On 28/12/2013 16:47, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> In article <f2vtb918kr6q6hife...@4ax.com>,
> <re...@to.newsgroup.invalid> wrote:
>> PS I was looking at the CPC web site. Why is it that an adaptor that
>> has an f socket on one end and a coax socket on the other end is only
>> 25 pence but to go from an f socket to a coax plug is over a pound? I
>> expected the plug option would be more popular considering that tvs
>> and recorders require a plug input but I suppose people use the right
>> plug rather than use an adaptor.
>
>> What doesn't help is that there is not one name for the plugs (and
>> sockets) that are traditionally used for televisions. On cpc I have
>> seen uhf, coax, and pal all used as different words for the same
>> thing.
>
> They were traditionally known as Belling-Lee connectors. Perhaps they
> still exist and object to that name being used apart from genuine ones.
>
> IMHO, they are one of the nastiest connectors around. Right up there with
> SCART and DIN. ;-)
>

SCART is quite reliable provided you aren't stupid enough to buy gold
plated ones as they don't mix well with proper tin coated ones.
There are a lot of nasty ones about that don't use proper scart cable
(yes there is cable specifically made for scart).
A good quality scart cable will set you back a couple of quid.

[Vir Campestris]

On 28/12/2013 16:47, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

> In article <f2vtb918kr6q6hife...@4ax.com>,
> <re...@to.newsgroup.invalid> wrote:
>> PS I was looking at the CPC web site. Why is it that an adaptor that
>> has an f socket on one end and a coax socket on the other end is only
>> 25 pence but to go from an f socket to a coax plug is over a pound? I
>> expected the plug option would be more popular considering that tvs
>> and recorders require a plug input but I suppose people use the right
>> plug rather than use an adaptor.
>
>> What doesn't help is that there is not one name for the plugs (and
>> sockets) that are traditionally used for televisions. On cpc I have
>> seen uhf, coax, and pal all used as different words for the same
>> thing.
>
> They were traditionally known as Belling-Lee connectors. Perhaps they
> still exist and object to that name being used apart from genuine ones.
>
> IMHO, they are one of the nastiest connectors around. Right up there with
> SCART and DIN. ;-)
>

Which DIN standard did you have in mind?

UHF, coax and PAL are all of course wrong. UHF being the frequency they
are sometimes used for (but I have one here for my VHF aerial...) coax
is the cable, and as for PAL - They have plugs that only support one
obsolete TV standard?

Andy

[spuorg...@gowanhill.com]

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> IMHO, they are one of the nastiest connectors around.

I used to have a Bush record-player that used Belling-Lee connectors for its Aux In and Out.

They're good for a couple of amps at mains as long as you remember that screen goes to Neutral.

Owain

[Capitol]

re...@to.newsgroup.invalid wrote:
> PS I was looking at the CPC web site. Why is it that an adaptor that
> has an f socket on one end and a coax socket on the other end is only
> 25 pence but to go from an f socket to a coax plug is over a pound? I
> expected the plug option would be more popular considering that tvs
> and recorders require a plug input but I suppose people use the right
> plug rather than use an adaptor.
>

Having used a few of the F plug to Belling socket in the last few days,
I have found that the F contact is very iffy unless you tighten them up
with a spanner. Personally I prefer Belling plugs with a soldered
connection, which IME gives less noise than the F plug/socket connection.

[Bill Wright]

CPC sell different ranges of the same types of connectors, at different
prices. Not all connectors are available in all ranges.

Bill

[meow...@care2.com]

Damn, I thought I was bad as a kid. But never would I have tried using those as mains plugs lol


NT

[re...@to.newsgroup.invalid]

On Sat, 28 Dec 2013 16:47:02 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)"
<da...@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:

>IMHO, they are one of the nastiest connectors around. Right up there with
>SCART and DIN. ;-)

I thought the criticisms are about the poor connection between the
cable and the plug? If you have one where you solder or screw the wire
to the plug, are they really that bad?

What is wrong with DIN? Are you meaning the five pins in a semicircle
din?

[Bill Wright]

That's the 180deg one. I've always (since I was a teenybopper) used them
for my 12V vehicle aux sockets and plugs. Never had a problem really. I
use the 270deg ones for 24V.

Bill

[Steve Thackery]

re...@to.newsgroup.invalid wrote:

> What is wrong with DIN? Are you meaning the five pins in a semicircle
> din?

The big problem with most of them, in my experience, is that they pull
out far too easily. Also, they wobble, so if the cable moves around a
bit they gradually inch their way out.

Again, this is just my experience, and I can't say I've used every
single variant. But I can say that I had a customer return on an
electronic widget I made which used DINs, for that very reason.

--
SteveT

[John Williamson]

On 09/01/2014 12:29, Steve Thackery wrote:
> re...@to.newsgroup.invalid wrote:
>
>> What is wrong with DIN? Are you meaning the five pins in a semicircle
>> din?
>
> The big problem with most of them, in my experience, is that they pull
> out far too easily. Also, they wobble, so if the cable moves around a
> bit they gradually inch their way out.
>

The locking version gets round that problem. They're still a very flimsy
connnector, though. Introduced partly to save on space, and partly to
protect the European equipment makers' monopoly, IIRC.

'Orrible things.

--
Tciao for Now!

John.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

In article <ktssc917anptbma8f...@4ax.com>,

For a start, any connector made of a plastic which melts easily when
soldering (if it is a solder only connector) is junk as far as I'm
concerned. The Belling Lee fits into this too. The standard DIN plug also
falls apart easily. You can get better designed ones, though.

Other thing with DIN is the plating on the pins seems to corrode easily -
even in a normal domestic environment - over the years resulting in a poor
connection. That - and other reasons - is probably why they've fallen out
of favour these days.

--
*I did a theatrical performance about puns. It was a play on words.*

[Dave Plowman (News)]

In article <bj7jdn...@mid.individual.net>,

The Touchel version - same pin spacing but lockable and made of decent
materials is ok. But in a different league, price wise.

--
*I didn't fight my way to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian.

[Bill Wright]

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

> For a start, any connector made of a plastic which melts easily when
> soldering (if it is a solder only connector) is junk as far as I'm
> concerned. The Belling Lee fits into this too. The standard DIN plug also
> falls apart easily. You can get better designed ones, though.
>
> Other thing with DIN is the plating on the pins seems to corrode easily -
> even in a normal domestic environment - over the years resulting in a poor
> connection. That - and other reasons - is probably why they've fallen out
> of favour these days.
>

I use RS ones and I don't have problems with soldering or anything else.
They are very expensive though.

Bill