SMA Connector Power Rating?

Hi
I want to know the maximum power rating possible an SMA connector.I understand the cable & the PCB track power rating will also be required to get the final useful value..But for connector alone i would like to find out..


I've seen a website (RF cable connectors - custom cable assemblies - Lighthorse Technologies Inc.) specifying 500V max, 0-18GHz,50Ohms for SMA connectors.

How to convert this rating to W terms?? using V^2/R??
If so 500^2/50=5000W But that seems so weird to me..

Thanks & Regards

its not something that manufacturers generally specify, usually always voltage rating.

you also need to understand that ....

1) ratings for connectors (any connector SMA or otherwise) will vary with the manufacturer
"not all connectors are created the same" say... not all SMA connectors, are the same quality.
there are some really crappy brands out there (personal experience )
2) ratings drop as freq increases .... ie. you cant put as much power through a given connector at 20GHz that you can at 1GHz

sorry I cant answer your Q directly, but at least something else for you to think about

cheers
Dave

---------- Post added at 09:55 ---------- Previous post was at 09:28 ----------

ok some more info.....

from Southwest Microwave, a pdf relating to their Extended Power Super SMA series of connector....
**broken link removed**

stating that temperature is a critical factor in the connector rating...
quote...
recommended max power rating for Standard Super SMA is 150W CW at 12 - 18GHz at a max temp of 125C
The Extended Power Super SMA can add an addition 100W to the above rating.
endquote

Page 8 of this pdf file has a nice colour graph of power rating of various connectors V's freq
**broken link removed**

cheers
Dave

Thanks Dave...
I was operating near 50W(peak)@1GHz and i needed to confirm whether i could go on with SMA connector.The graph u ve shown tells me that its ok up to 600W average.. Any way i may go up with N Type for safety.

I've read the papers above and I was impressed. 150W CW @ 27GHz @ 160deg !? I'm pretty sure the SMA connector itself will survive, but what about its soldering and nearby PCB circuit? Or you are just interested to re-use the connector after everything is burnt up?

themaccabee said:

Thanks Dave...
I was operating near 50W(peak)@1GHz and i needed to confirm whether i could go on with SMA connector.The graph u ve shown tells me that its ok up to 600W average.. Any way i may go up with N Type for safety.

Click to expand...

N types are a standard connector used at 1GHz, make great use of them at that freq myself (1296MHz amateur band)
I have even seen N connectors get VERY warm with 100W at 1296MHz. For 20 - 50W even TNC's are acceptable and because they are a threaded connector, they are a better choice than their "brother" the BNC

VFONE, yeah I also cringe at the thought of >100W through a SMA, even if its apparently rated for it UT-141 semi rigid coax into an SMA gets almost too hot to touch with 100W @ 1300MHz throough it haha .... That refers to the coax and the connector !!

Dave