NEUTRIK SpeakON Contact Material - Nickel Plated Copper?

[Jim Creek]

What is the actual material composition of the contacts inside Neutrik SpeakON connectors? They look to be a silver metal, possibly Nickel plated Copper. Anyone know?

 

[Nisbeth]

page 12 in the "SpeakON Product Guide" pdf (you favourite search engine should be able to find it - don't want to post a long link here )

 

[Jim Creek]

Got it. From the Product Guide: CuZn39Pb3. I read that as 58% copper, 39% Zinc, 3% lead.

 

[Mark Tillotson]

aka Brass....

 

[Jim Creek]

…..with a 4 micrometer plating of silver

 

[tomchr]

I bet the twisting action of the connector makes the contacts self-cleaning. I don't know that for a fact, but I would be a bit surprise if that is not the case.

Tom

 

[jean-paul]

Remarkably not lead free brass. One would expect ROHS.

 

[Mark Tillotson]

There's a RoHS exemption for upto 4% Pb in copper/brass alloys. This may change in the future. https://copper.org/applications/rodbar/pdf/a1388-RoHS-FAQ.pdf

 

[jean-paul]

Let’s hope no one will suggest beryllium.

 

[chrisng]

Got it. From the Product Guide: CuZn39Pb3. I read that as 58% copper, 39% Zinc, 3% lead.

Those are discontinued. Active products are stated "Copper Alloy" .

 

[Cal Weldon]

Possibly Cupronickel. It’s silver in colour.

 

[jean-paul]

Silver and hard silver (copper alloy) have that too 🙂

Cupronickel is not used for connectors AFAIK but since the far east friends use “anymetal” alloys everything seems possible.