[Elecraft] low-amp Bell Power Outlet when no Rig Runner

[Mark W4CHL]

Had some feedback on the post in August about the Bell Power Outlets from KMart and elsewhere. I offer the following amendments to the text as follows:

Should have said 15A ABSOLUTE PEAK for fractions of a second, not implied continuous !  Indeed a mistake by me, agreed these little boxes aren't up to 15A cont, they seem to be barely up to under 5A cont that I've put through them.  I'll so amend the post ! 

Given this runs at most a K2 OR FT-817 and a Z11 or AT-11, we're talking about perhaps or 2A peak (0.9A recv) with the FT-817 and perhaps 2.5A peak (0.5A recv) with the K2, and a booster for a 16V laptop (about 4A peak, a bit under 0.5A cont), then we are at a total budget of:

8.0A total of all peak current draws
1.9A cont

Highest I've measured was with FT-817 + AT-11mp + laptop while AT-11mp was tuning using OneTouch Tune device.  Drew total current of a bit under 6A. Settled to about 4.0A on PSK31 after tuning. Never even come close to the 8.0A peak when I've measured with a peak reading ammeter. 

Agree that the 16ga "zip" quality insulated wire is up to about 5A cont rating ? As I noted, this is a cute little distribution box for low current apps, and in a pinch can do a bit more. Still, I wish I'd had the little Rig Runner along with me that trip !  It is now in with either QRP rig that comes along.

Cheers & 73s de Mark W4CHL
Chapel Hill NC  USA   http://rtpnet.org/parc

---------Original post -----------
Fellow travelers w/ ham and electronics equipment,

Enroute to a mtn cabin (sans my little Rig Runner) I had the misfortune of 
having a connector failure with my custom power distribution harness for 
laptop requiring 16V (via N4UAU converter) and the FT-817 & Z11 
combination. Stopping at a nearby K-Mart after discovering the broken 
connector, I found an interesting little item:

Bell Direct Connect Power Outlet model 39042-P

Now it isn't up to the Rig Runner in fit and finish, but it is an 
interesting little 3 from 1 DC power distribution unit for auto DC power 
outlet (aka cigarette lighter outlet) to 3 mini-blade fused pair of spring 
connectors (similar to what I've seen on some low end home system audio 
speakers). The $17.99 unit includes a fused, hard wired auto DC connector 
(16ga ?) and master on/off switch on the little plastic unit. The 3A fuses 
seemed on the low side, so I picked up a package of 7.5A mini blade fuses 
to replace at least one of the standard 3A fuses.  16ga wire and soldered 
connections inside the unit certainly seems up to handling at least 15A 
total, though not through most auto DC "outlets". Changing the fuse 
allowed me to accomodate the peak 5A+ surges from the N4UAU booster. 
There's also a 2 spring connector pair version with another auto DC outlet 
built in. 

The Bell unit is easily opened with 6 phillips head screws to allow for 
adding some Power Pole connectors after slicing off the ubiquitous auto DC 
adapter and soldering in Power Pole connectors. Since returning, I've put 
a Power Pole connector lead on the 7.5A fuse, another on the 5A fuse, and 
a barrel connector extension on the remaining 3A fuse for the Z11. The 
spring connectors aren't much to write home about, but  with leads that 
are twisted or soldered together they work well, and in a pinch grab onto 
just about any 18 to 24ga wire. 

If anyone else cares to see it, I'll post a photo or two. Yep, could have 
picked up some wire nuts and just cut a few connectors off and twisted, 
but then we wouldn't be writing or reading much about taking this 
approach, would we ? Anyway, saved from very short digital mode ham radio 
sessions at WVa mtn cabin !

Cheers & 73s de Mark W4CHL
Chapel Hill NC  USA   http://rtpnet.org/parc