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Coiled (Rectractile) Coax

Hello, all. I would like to replace the probe cable on a portable Geiger (GM) counter with a shielded, coiled coaxial cable with male BNC connectors on both ends. Currently I'm using a straight length of RG-58 but the GM counter originally was supplied with a coiled cable (the outer rubber (?) covering eventually split in many places). A coiled cable is no longer available from the manufacturer, Eberline, but I did locate one from Ludlum (another manufacturer of GM instruments) for about $80.00. Does anyone know of any other sources of coiled, connectorized cable as a less expensive alternative? The cable should be shielded and capable of withstanding at least 1000 VDC (audio/mic cable will not suffice). Thanks for your time and comment. Sincerely,

John Wood (Code 5550) e-mail: snipped-for-privacy@itd.nrl.navy.mil Naval Research Laboratory

4555 Overlook Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20375-5337
Reply to
J. B. Wood
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Try making your own, It has to have a relatively thick sleeving for it to work but have a go on a scrap piece or 2

To make coiled extending cable,where off the shelf multicore coiled flex is not available This method will work on relatively thick sleeved cable i.e mains rather than signal. Find some wooden dowel of the intended internal diameter of the coiled cable. Nail one end of the plain cable to the dowel,fix the other end of the cable in a vice; twist the dowel until the cable "upsets". Roll the cable onto the dowel in the sense that contracts the helix on the dowel,nail the end that was in the vice. Now while turning the dowel heat with a hot air gun to the point where the sleeving is about to melt,allow to cool. Someone told me using a pan of boiling water as the heat source does the same job but I've not tried it but it would give even heating.

Other hints and tips off the URL below

-- Diverse Devices, Southampton, England electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on

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Reply to
N Cook

Thanks for the detailed response! Sincerely,

John Wood (Code 5550) e-mail: snipped-for-privacy@itd.nrl.navy.mil Naval Research Laboratory

4555 Overlook Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20375-5337
Reply to
J. B. Wood

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