Why the Gold Finish Matters for Your RF Assembly
A brass lockwasher with a gold body finish is the correct choice for SMA jacks that themselves have gold-plated bodies. Mixing a nickel-plated or plain brass washer with a gold-plated jack introduces a galvanic couple that accelerates corrosion at the mating interface. On a bulkhead mount where the jack sees weather or condensation, that corrosion can degrade the RF ground reference over time. The 132-WASH-GLD avoids that — the gold-to-gold interface keeps the ground path stable.
Installation Note: Where the Lockwasher Goes
On a standard SMA panel-mount jack, the lockwasher sits between the panel and the hex nut, not between the jack flange and the panel. The sequence from the outside in is: hex nut, lockwasher, panel, jack body. Tighten the nut to the torque spec in the jack's installation drawing — overtightening can deform the washer and reduce its locking action. The 132-WASH-GLD is a one-piece stamped washer, not a split-ring or star type; it provides friction retention rather than a mechanical bite into the panel surface.