It is true that this practice has been used for many years and that many splicers have been taught that heating the center conductor is a time saver that does not cause damage. Unfortunately that is just not true.
To better understand why, here are the facts.
FACT: Heating a center conductor with a torch WILL result in the melting of dielectric, the amount of heat exposure will vary how much the dielectric melts.
FACT: Melted dielectric will result in the shifting of the center conductor closer towards one side of the cable. This "shift" means that the center conductor is no longer aligned in the center thus changing the impedence of the cable (no longer 75 Ohms) as well as severely effecting other electrical characteristics of the cable.
These are the real reasons for not heating center conductors. The resulting damage voids any warranty on the cable by the manufacturer. If a cable system operator discovers problems with their system due to dielectric meltdown, you could be found liable for damages and repair costs.
Remember that a good pair of center conductor cleaners will properly clean a center conductor in a fraction of time it takes using the harmful method of torching it.
For further information regarding this or any other cable questions, you may contact CommScope Technical Services @ 1-800-892-1708.
DO NOT Heat Center Conductor !!!
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