[Ares-races] 12 volt power connectors

Sun, 30 Nov 2003 11:36:38 -0500

Hi Mark,

This is usually a very passionate discussion- everyone feels that if they've
picked a standard, they have to tell you how great it is in hopes that
you'll use it to.  Perpetuating the standard helps keep it a standard.

All of the different "systems" have their advantages and disadvantages.  My
group has settled on the Anderson PowerPoles.

While on the surface the ARRL recommends the Molex connectors, you'll get
very few hams at ARRL HQ to admit that.  In various discussions over the
last couple of years, the ARRL has admitted that the Molex connector is a
bad choice compared to the PowerPoles- but that is off the record.  I
believe there is a group within the ARRL that is attempting to arrive on a
new recommendation.  But until they do, they have to recommend something so
they are sticking with their old standard in their literature.

My recommendation is to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of all of the
options and find out what is important to your group in your area.

PowerPoles and RigRunners are becoming popular for many hams, even outside
of ARES/RACES, for their convenience in hooking up all station equipment.
Once you get the hang of it, they are quite simple to install.  So, if you
ever need the assistance of non-ARES/RACES hams, you can use even their
equipment.  But that is just one advantage.

I remember one group even deciding that black and red wire with bare
stripped ends and wire nuts was going to be their standard- it worked for
them (I still disagree with that one, but that is what they picked).  I
guess they had the ultimate in flexibility as they saw it.

Good luck wading through all of the differing opinions!

73,
Marlo Montanaro- KA2IRQ
RACES Radio Officer / ARES DEC / Skywarn Deputy Coordinator / ARRL PIO
Monmouth County ARES-RACES-Skywarn (MCARS)
Monmouth County, NJ

http://www.qsl.net/ka2irq

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Mark Derby
Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2003 10:54 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Ares-races] 12 volt power connectors

Hello,

Our local (Muskegon, Michigan) ARES-RACES group has discovered that we do
not have an agreement on what 12 volt power connectors we all should be
using.  ARRL recommends a Molex 1545 which no one is using due to
availability.  What is being used are Radio Shack 274-222's, Radio Shack
274-151's and Anderson Powerpole connectors.  To see pictures of these
connectors go to www.mcares.org and click on the Connector Discussion link
on the left of the page.

My question is what is everyone else using?  Has anyone used Molex 1545's?
Has anyone had problems with Molex 1545's?

Thanks and 73,

Mark Derby
KB8UFF

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