As a corollary topic to HV connectors... we forum denizens recently were told about a 3500 volt Hipot tester available on epay for only around $20 (the ones coming directly from china, for some reason, seem rated to 3800 volts instead). 3500V isn't quite enough for what the OP wants/needs (he wanted at least 5 kV); but it reminded me that 3 or 4 years back, I was building a 10+ kV Hipot tester and thought I would use a neon sign transformer. However, those I found on epay were not only old and relatively-decrepit-looking, the sellers also wanted either both arms and a leg or both legs. For some reason, I did a search on epay for "Hipot tester" and lo and behold: a bunch of sellers were marketing 10+ kV, very-low current adjustable power supplies in the $25-$35 range. I bought one... it's a PC board about 4" by 1-1/2" with a switching inductor or transformer on it and runs from 12VDC. You have to wire a pot to the board to get the adjustable output, completely adjustable from zero to over 12 kV DC at at least a couple mils, far more than enough for a Hipot tester. Even has short-circuit protection 8-)

I would strongly suggest a Hipot tester be used to confirm the HV integrity of any cables or connectors. You can, obviously, also use it to hipot your old tubes, vacuum variables, and vacuum relays 8-)

Steve, K0XP

On 11/21/2024 5:24 PM, Jeff AC0C wrote:

So239/Pl259 are questionable after 3KV.? Been there, tried that.

Don't like the Millen HV because the tip is exposed IIRC.

The SHV works well for moderate voltages but it's not super rugged.? Looks more or less like a BNC variant on the shell. These are harder to get these days as they seem to have fallen out of favor for more modern safety-oriented specialty connectors. But for ham use, they may be what you are needing.

GL!

73/jeff/ac0c
alpha-charlie-zero-charlie


On 11/21/2024 6:49 PM, Mike Sawyer via groups.io wrote:

If you were to 'sing the praises' of those Millen HV connectors, which are
advertised up to 7KV, Shane, WP2ASS, might bop you on the nose! I have used
them to 2KV but I would go much above that because they lack a lot of
protection where the wire goes into the connector itself. I have some SHV
that require RG-58 or a reasonable facsimile thereof. Recently? I used
these:

One of the companies that makes a Megger uses it to 10KV. I'm only using it
for 2KV but the bare conductor is buried deep inside the ABS probe so that
it isn't exposed. The only issue I see is that the manufacturer doesn't
state the current. It didn't bother me since I was looking at a max of about
300mA on my modulator. However, YMMV!

Mod-U-Lator,
Mike(y)/W3SLK


-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf
Of Amp Guy Llc
Sent: Thursday, November 21, 2024 6:54 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [ham-amplifiers] Need advice on HV connectors

Google Alden High Voltage connectors

On 2024-11-21 16:16, Dave w6de wrote:

Using connectors and cables for other than their original intended
purpose is an invitation for a potentially fatal disaster in the
future.

Don't depend on haphazard grounding for HV power return, run a
separate dark cable for the HV return in addition to having a common
shack grounding system.

Use bright red HV cables and purpose built HV connectors.? Millen HV
connectors have been used in Amateur radio applications for a long
time.

illen+High+voltage+connector&_sacat=0&_odkw=millen+HV+connector&_osacat=0

[1]



73,

Dave, w6de

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of
Kim Herron via groups.io
Sent: 21 November, 2024 18:06
To: [email protected]
Subject: [ham-amplifiers] Need advice on HV connectors

HI? all,

Thanks for reading the mail.? I have acquired a home brew amp

and power supply that is missing its HV cable.? I'd like to change
both

of them to one style since they are both different.? Jack Schutt K9GT

originally built this.? I'd thought about using SO-239/PL-259's that
are

Teflon with RG-8 inner conductor cable as the HV wire and packing

the PL-259's with RTV-108 and sleeving the wire with GOOD Belden

heavy shrink tube with sealant.? Does that sound like it would hold

5 KV since that's what Jack built the power supply too?? Thanks

for the input and reading the mail.

Kim Herron? W8ZV

w8zv@...

[2]

616-677-3706



Links:
------
[1]

illen+High+voltage+connector&_sacat=0&_odkw=millen+HV+connector&_osacat=0

[2]
[3] /g/ham-amplifiers/message/40718
[4] /mt/109709173/8135091
[5] /g/ham-amplifiers/post
[6] /g/ham-amplifiers/editsub/8135091
[7]
/g/ham-amplifiers/leave/12941173/8135091/773995006/xyzzy

--
See my QRZ.com page at