how i went from molex to co-ax

tiggerbiker · 29th January 2008, 14:06

i have been thinking about changing my cell connectors on my classic inspo for a while now and now my cells are due to be changed i figured now was a good time to do it.
I decided that i wanted to solder the SMB co-ax connectors to a CO-AX flying lead then solder that to my existing loom (soldering 2 wires together is easy but what about the co-ax SMB????)

anyway, after finding i could buy the connectors for just over 50 pence each i thought "what the hell"

here is a few pics of how i did it.

firstly, i found that if you put a tiny loop in the end if the co-ax core it will take the solder well and you dont have to heat the wire too much.

then push the wire into the connector, hold the soldering iron onto the solder post but off to one side, when you have heated the post just feed the (very fine) solder onto the end if the wire - use a tiny bit!

then slide the sleave up the wire, crimp it on then a little heatshrink to seal it all.
i used epoxy resin to seal the top of the connector.

and there we are! all 4 leads built, tested and ready to solder in! - i'd better order that 4 pack of cells from Rebreather World store now!

please remember - this is not intended as instructions to be followed to modify your own rebreather, i posted this as general information only.
i do not recommend you do this modification, you should send your lid back to ap diving if you want to have co-ax connectors.

***Beanie*** · 29th January 2008, 14:21

What coax did you use?

tiggerbiker · 29th January 2008, 14:31

Quote: (Originally Posted by Beanie)

What coax did you use?

i asked for a couple of meters of this

probably not the best stuff but it has done the job - i'll get some ptfe lined super douper mini coax if i had to do it again

Mdemon · 29th January 2008, 15:54

Nice one!

teomannaskali · 29th January 2008, 15:55

Polytetrafluoroethylene - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Some experts would probably know better... but I dont see any harm in using them inside the loop. Unless you have a fire... and even then you would end up having problems equalizing your ears?

"While PTFE itself is chemically inert and non-toxic, it begins to deteriorate after the temperature of cookware reaches about 500 °F (260 °C), and decompose above 660 °F (350 °C).[12] These degradation products can be lethal to birds, and can cause flu-like symptoms in humans.[13]"

tiggerbiker · 29th January 2008, 16:20

parts list:
SMB coax connector - 51p + VAT each

Miniature Coax Cable - 59p per metre

heatshrink tubing - £1.70p per metre

potting compound - £4.99p - 50g (maybe hot glue would do just as well??)

julieann charters · 30th January 2008, 07:55

you could of bought em prewired ,2 of these cut in half will give ya 4 prewired coax ends ,just pop the sealing disc off and fill with epoxy resin ,ie araldite 2 part
the connections on these things are tiny and not the easiest of things to solder
R S number 409-8102 for the lazy brigade
elfyn

ajmtucke · 30th January 2008, 09:54

hey tig,

where did you get the case re-spray done ??

looks good

ash

tiggerbiker · 30th January 2008, 10:00

Quote: (Originally Posted by ajmtucke)

hey tig,

where did you get the case re-spray done ??

looks good

ash

Hi Ash!

i did it myself, i used motorcycle fairing paint.

i was thinking of getting a mate that runs a bespoke fairing factory to make a carbon fibre one up but the cost would be astronomical!

Scubascooby · 30th January 2008, 10:23

After I bought the Shearwater for the KISS Classic I did think that it might
have been a good opportunity to swap to co-ax connectors if only for the
compatibility with my AP owning friends.

29th January 2008, 14:06	#1 (permalink)
tiggerbiker New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: herts, uk Posts: 56	how i went from molex to co-ax i have been thinking about changing my cell connectors on my classic inspo for a while now and now my cells are due to be changed i figured now was a good time to do it. I decided that i wanted to solder the SMB co-ax connectors to a CO-AX flying lead then solder that to my existing loom (soldering 2 wires together is easy but what about the co-ax SMB????) anyway, after finding i could buy the connectors for just over 50 pence each i thought "what the hell" here is a few pics of how i did it. firstly, i found that if you put a tiny loop in the end if the co-ax core it will take the solder well and you dont have to heat the wire too much. then push the wire into the connector, hold the soldering iron onto the solder post but off to one side, when you have heated the post just feed the (very fine) solder onto the end if the wire - use a tiny bit! then slide the sleave up the wire, crimp it on then a little heatshrink to seal it all. i used epoxy resin to seal the top of the connector. and there we are! all 4 leads built, tested and ready to solder in! - i'd better order that 4 pack of cells from Rebreather World store now! please remember - this is not intended as instructions to be followed to modify your own rebreather, i posted this as general information only. i do not recommend you do this modification, you should send your lid back to ap diving if you want to have co-ax connectors. __________________ the more i learn, the more i realize i know nothing Last edited by tiggerbiker : 29th January 2008 at 14:09.
(Online)

29th January 2008, 14:21	#2 (permalink)
*Beanie* give a man an inch....... Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In da house! yeah baby! Posts: 3,248	Re: how i went from molex to co-ax What coax did you use? __________________ Beanie Gallery Admin & Library Assistant. www.outlawdivers.org.uk www.beandiving.co.uk www.beanengineering.co.uk 0871 242 7808
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29th January 2008, 14:31	#3 (permalink)
tiggerbiker New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: herts, uk Posts: 56	Re: how i went from molex to co-ax Quote: (Originally Posted by Beanie) What coax did you use? i asked for a couple of meters of this probably not the best stuff but it has done the job - i'll get some ptfe lined super douper mini coax if i had to do it again __________________ the more i learn, the more i realize i know nothing Last edited by tiggerbiker : 29th January 2008 at 14:36.
(Online)

29th January 2008, 15:54	#4 (permalink)
Mdemon SiegeEngine II Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Home Build Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SWUK Posts: 1,931	Re: how i went from molex to co-ax Nice one! __________________ www.southwestmafia.com "small minds talk about people, Average Minds Talk About Events, GREAT MINDS TALK ABOUT IDEAS!" The WRONG Attitude will get you killed. "Once the agenda-monkeys and perfect-worlders have moved on, perhaps we can do some diving?"
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29th January 2008, 15:55	#5 (permalink)
teomannaskali Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Home Build Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Istanbul TR Posts: 384	Re: how i went from molex to co-ax Polytetrafluoroethylene - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Some experts would probably know better... but I dont see any harm in using them inside the loop. Unless you have a fire... and even then you would end up having problems equalizing your ears? "While PTFE itself is chemically inert and non-toxic, it begins to deteriorate after the temperature of cookware reaches about 500 °F (260 °C), and decompose above 660 °F (350 °C).[12] These degradation products can be lethal to birds, and can cause flu-like symptoms in humans.[13]" Last edited by teomannaskali : 30th January 2008 at 00:51.
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29th January 2008, 16:20	#6 (permalink)
tiggerbiker New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: herts, uk Posts: 56	Re: how i went from molex to co-ax parts list: SMB coax connector - 51p + VAT each Miniature Coax Cable - 59p per metre heatshrink tubing - £1.70p per metre potting compound - £4.99p - 50g (maybe hot glue would do just as well??) __________________ the more i learn, the more i realize i know nothing
(Online)

30th January 2008, 07:55	#7 (permalink)
julieann charters New Member Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Home Build Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Anglesey Posts: 46	Re: how i went from molex to co-ax you could of bought em prewired ,2 of these cut in half will give ya 4 prewired coax ends ,just pop the sealing disc off and fill with epoxy resin ,ie araldite 2 part the connections on these things are tiny and not the easiest of things to solder R S number 409-8102 for the lazy brigade elfyn __________________ Diving Angleseys wrecks and reefs aboard hardboats "Julieann" & "Empress" with diver/ skippers Elfyn &Terry both on ccr since 1999. www.julie-anne.co.uk 08004584090 07768863355 Last edited by julieann charters : 30th January 2008 at 16:54.
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30th January 2008, 09:54	#8 (permalink)
ajmtucke New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Hereford, UK Posts: 83	Re: how i went from molex to co-ax hey tig, where did you get the case re-spray done ?? looks good ash
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30th January 2008, 10:00	#9 (permalink)
tiggerbiker New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: herts, uk Posts: 56	Re: how i went from molex to co-ax Quote: (Originally Posted by ajmtucke) hey tig, where did you get the case re-spray done ?? looks good ash Hi Ash! i did it myself, i used motorcycle fairing paint. i was thinking of getting a mate that runs a bespoke fairing factory to make a carbon fibre one up but the cost would be astronomical! __________________ the more i learn, the more i realize i know nothing
(Online)

30th January 2008, 10:23	#10 (permalink)
Scubascooby Better Off Out of the EU Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Great Britain Posts: 389	Re: how i went from molex to co-ax After I bought the Shearwater for the KISS Classic I did think that it might have been a good opportunity to swap to co-ax connectors if only for the compatibility with my AP owning friends. __________________ "dove" is NOT the past tense of "dive" Better off OUT of the EU !
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