Featured Product Archive
The inventions and products featured on these pages were chosen either for their
uniqueness in the RF engineering realm, or are simply awesome (or ridiculous) enough
to warrant an appearance.
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 As one of a dwindling number of people who
still read paper print versions of our electronics trade magazines, I find it more
convenient to scan for noteworthy new products and articles to report about on RF
Cafe. I tear out pages and put them a stack for eventual reference. The April 2016
issue of Microwaves & RF
had a feature on a new line of Raychem (TE Connectivity)
heat-shrink
matched-impedance splices. I have used Raychem's heat-shrink splices for many
decades on standard signal and power wire in cases where it was more convenient
that soldering the joint, cleaning it, and then sliding a section of heat-shrink
tubing over it. The only disadvantage of a Raychem type splice is the cost and it
is a little bulkier than the other way.
I cannot ever recall an instance where I spliced a coaxial cable rather than
replace the entire length. There have been times when the coax was laced into a
harness assembly and replacing it was a real pain in the posterior, especially since
it was in the back of a row of equipment racks with no easy access. Having had these
new matched-impedance splices from Raychem would have been real nice.
It appears for now the splice kit is only available for
RG-393 coaxial
cable, which is a 50 Ω, 0.39-inch diameter cable rated to around 6 GHz.
The advertised impedance match tolerance is +10%/-3% (VSWR range of 1.03:1 to 1.10:1).
Per TE Connectivity's website:
 "TE Connectivity Ltd. (TE) (NYSE: TEL),
a world leader in connectivity and sensors, announced its Raychem matched impedance
splices for aerospace applications. Designed to comply with MIL-PRF-32517 standard,
the splices solve the problem of costly removal and replacement of damaged coaxial
cable by allowing fast, easy in situ repairs that maintain characteristic impedance
and other electrical properties of the system.
Coaxial cables are used extensively within aerospace and avionics systems, yet
there has been no effective solution to repair such cables damaged during operational
use. Until now, any affected cables within the airframe had to be disconnected,
removed and then replaced, which was both time-consuming and costly.
'Our engineers have developed a solution that addresses this common challenge
by matching the characteristic impedance of the cable itself and offering the greater
capability of in situ repair,' said Janeann Avants, product manager, Global Aerospace,
Defense & Marine, TE Connectivity. 'Our Raychem matched impedance splices reduce
the time and effort needed for repairs and lessen the number of cables that need
to be replaced.'
TE's new Raychem matched impedance splices are designed for the harsh environments
of military and commercial aerospace applications and are well suited for extreme
temperatures, high vibration, high EMI and corrosive environments. The splice contains
three components: a hexagonal crimp barrel for the center conductors, a dielectric
shell that helps maintain cable geometry for impedance control, and a heat-shrinkable
SolderShield splice that both terminates the cable's shield and provides sealing
to protect the splice environmentally."
Download the
Raychem Matched-Impedance Splices brochure here.
About TE Connectivity
"TE Connectivity (NYSE: TEL) is a $12 billion global technology leader. Our connectivity
and sensor solutions are essential in today's increasingly connected world. We collaborate
with engineers to transform their concepts into creations – redefining what's possible
using intelligent, efficient and high-performing TE products and solutions proven
in harsh environments. Our 72,000 people, including over 7,000 engineers, partner
with customers in close to 150 countries across a wide range of industries. We believe
EVERY CONNECTION COUNTS."
Posted August 19, 2016
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