[Elecraft] APP Connector Weak Spot

[David Ferrington, M0XDF]

Hi Ro :-)
For anyone looking at APPs, these sites might help:

Lots of good PP ideas - http://home.comcast.net/~buck0/app.htm
Very good supplier out in the US - http://www.qsradio.com/ - N1GNV is  
really good
Good supplier in UK - http://tinyurl.com/2nzu3j - that's my tinyurl,  
trust it! (CPC are down right now - they are part of Farnell)

I looked around and did quite a bit of research before deciding to  
switch ALL my 12v connections to PP - the only thing left are adapters  
(phone chargers etc) and even they are plugged into cigar lighter  
sockets that connect to PPs. I ran 30A cable direct from the battery  
in the cars to under the dash and have a group of PP's for stuff to  
plug into.
I have 1 -> 3 way adapters etc.
I have a number of L/A batt. and they have PPs connected to the post  
permanently - the float chargers for these NOW have PPs (I leave all  
my L/As on float).
I took the intermittent Molex type Yaesu connector off my FT-859 and  
replaced with PP (one of the best things I did).
I do not yet have a RigRunner yet, but then it's easy to make your own  
panels up.
I'm very pleased that Elecraft have  gone the PP route.

I bought the 'Deluxe Crimp Tool' from QuickSilver (link above) and  
it's actually made by West Mountain Radio - you may think $60 is a  
lot, but believe me, in the UK that would be more like $120 and yes,  
it's as good as it should be and well worth it IF you are going to  
make a lot of connectors up.

Yes you can solder the odd ones or twos (ok Ron, yes you solder them  
all), but I found I was having to be very careful not to let solder  
run up to the contact part. So, I considered I'd be making a couple of  
100 crimps over the next few years (must have made 50 in the last 6  
months) and thought it worth it. I also bought  a whole load of shells  
(not just red/black), 15 & 30 A terminals, roll pins (don't bother)  
and lock clips (maybe in a vibro env.) from QuickSilver, but that just  
took advantage of shipping cost to UK.

BTW, whenever I buy anything from CPC, I add a pack of red/black PPs!  
- I've got about 50 spare pairs right now!!

73 de M0XDF, K3 #174
-- 
There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience. -French proverb

On 1 Apr 2008, at 19:23, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
> Ro, AC7AC