[Elecraft] Questions from a Liberal Arts Major

[Joe Spencer]

I have several Crimper tools but do not really trust crimped power 
connectors so...I solder all my PowerPoles connectors. It is easy to 
do...they work everytime and never a crimp problem.

Joe KK5NA

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul Christensen" <w9ac at arrl.net>
To: "Rich" <RichLentz at cox.net>; <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 4:00 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Questions from a Liberal Arts Major


>> "I believe that if the PowerPole on the K3 was installed on a short 
>> length of
> flexible wire we would not be reading about this problem as it would not
> exist."
>
> That would make a connector change-out very easy should the PowerPole 
> contacts become damaged..
>
> A while back, I had shifted the K3 cabinet while listening to a QSO and 
> the PowerPole disconnected from the lateral movement.  It's mostly the 
> lateral tension that creates the propensity for accidental disconnects. 
> If I had moved the cabinet while transmitting at 100W, I suspect that I 
> would need to have gone in and replaced the fused/welded pins.  Arguably, 
> K3 owners shouldn't be moving the rig while operating!
>
> I have a love-hate relationship with the PowerPole: I love the convenience 
> (e.g., Rigrunner DC manifold); but I hate that the connector does not 
> "lock 'n mate" as compared to those power connectors manufactured by MOLEX 
> and AMP.  Locking the PowerPole requires some external means like a 
> tie-wrap, or the special plastic bridge clip being sold by Anderson.
>
> Ensuring a correct crimp is part of the solution, but not the whole 
> solution.  I have a shop drawer full of professional ratcheting crimpers 
> and prior to the recent purchase of the West Mountain crimper, I thought I 
> was doing a good job.  But what was occurring with my existing crimper is 
> that the contact tip was bending slightly out of alignment during the 
> crimp process.  The West Mountain crimper locks the contact tip while 
> crimping, thereby ensuring the pin remains straight with the barrel after 
> crimping. Moreover, the West Mountain crimper ensures a completely 
> concentric crimp. Had I not tried it myself, I would not have believe 
> there could be that much of a difference between it and my other 
> ratcheting crimpers.
>
> Paul, W9AC
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com