[heathkit] test leads

["Neil Morrison" <neilsmorr@gmail.com>]

Black plastics stand up way better to UV. I've seen the red ink on meter 
scales fade badly also.

Just try to keep them out of the light. The only good ones are those which 
have cloth over the lead wire - they will last 40 years or more IME.

Neil

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dennis C. Henry" <dchenry@gac.edu>

> Carl,
>
> I've seen the same effect, starting with my own V-7A, built in 1959, and 
> continuing with that and other models for another decade, at least.  The 
> same problem showed up in the bulk red Belden 5-KV test lead wire I cut up 
> into patch cords by the dozens in the late 1950's and 60's, with the speed 
> and severity of the deterioration somewhat influenced by where the leads 
> were used and stored.  The black ones always held up better than the red, 
> but it seems to hold up better than it used to.  I think that I've 
> replaced the red wires three times on that elderly and still working fine 
> V-7A, which I built when I was 13.  As we know from the various kinds of 
> rubber feet and grommets, none of them are in very good shape after 20 
> years.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Dennis