Electronic applications such as radio, television, cable and other types of signal all make use of coaxial cables to carry the signals. The purpose of coax cable is to carry the signal of importance down the center conductor and for the outer sheath to shield it from any interference. Stripping the cable to make a connection has particular dimensions.
Instructions
1. Take the end of the coaxial cable and cut a square end off the tip of the cable. This will form the end of the cable with the connector. Cut the cable with the pair of wire cutters. The layers of the coaxial cable are a center conductor of solid copper wire, surrounded by a plastic sheathing about 1/4 inch thick. A thin paper-like foil barrier wraps the plastic sheath around the center conductor. A metal wire netting forms a sheath around the central portion of the cable. There is an outer plastic coating to shield and seal the inner layers from the weather.
2. Measure between 3/8 inch to 1/2 inch from the freshly cut end of the cable and place the coax stripper's outer blade at this point. Make sure the stripper is oriented properly such that the blade making the deeper cut is on the outside end of the cable and not on the inside side of where the cut will be made. Rotate the stripper one full turn of the cable clockwise and then back one turn counter-clockwise. Apply no pressure on the stripper as it turns. Grasp the stripper across the middle and pull the cable through the stripper.
3. Examine the end of the cable. There will be a center conductor exposed and then a short length of plastic surrounding the conductor for about 1/4 inch. At this point there will be a wire netting surrounding the lower layers for about another 1/4 inch and then the final layer of the outer insulator. Look very closely to make sure that there is no foil sliver connecting the center conductor and the outside of the plastic sheath. Any connection across this region would short the signal out, and the cable would need remaking. The cable is now ready to have a connector crimped on to complete this end.
4. Press the connector onto the stripped end and rotate it one direction as you apply force to the connector until the center conductor and plastic sheath stick out the center of the connector. Position the plastic sheath at the metal barrier with only the conductor sticking through. Place the connector in the crimping tool and crimp the connector onto the cable. Examine the end of the connector and trim the center conductor to be about 1/16 inch beyond the end of the connector.
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