[Elecraft] [K3] DC Power cable

[Edward R. Cole]

I only have two power-pole connected radios (K3 and FT-817).  I just 
tested the resistance to separating the mated connectors and it sure 
doesn't take much to disconnect them (certainly could not support the 
weight of the radio).  They are either commercially built cables or 
ones that I assembled.  The ones I built definitely snapped into the 
shell (extremely hard to extract and requires using a small 
screwdriver to pry up the metal connector to release).

Power-poles do not offer sufficient resistance to disconnecting in my 
opinion.  The professional made cable is plugged into the factory 
installed connector on the back of the K3.  They come apart 
(disconnect) if I move the radio.

The only connectors of this style that I have seen to have a strong 
connection were on marine HF radios (SEA222) and were physically 
larger (blue in color).  They were rated for 45amp and were a bitch 
to pull off the radio.  But not so these red/black power-poles.

This is "exactly" why they are not favored for certain commercial use 
(never found in aviation).  I'll bet not used by military.

I will only use them on radio equipment that is subject to being used 
in different locations and/or require compatibility to other ham 
radio installations (field day, etc.).  I'm sticking to using barrier 
terminal strips for my permanent wiring and threaded mil-spec 
connectors on equipment that is subject to 
movement/vibration/dust-dirt-moisture.

73, Ed
my opinion shaped by 45-years experience in mobile two-way radio
-----------------------------

Message: 12
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2010 19:08:13 -0400
From: Don Wilhelm <w3fpr at embarqmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] DC Power cable
To: Brett Howard <brett at livecomputers.com>
Cc: "elecraft at mailman.qth.net" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID: <4C4CC3DD.7080000 at embarqmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Brett,

You are correct, I read the wrong item on the data sheet.
But still, there are two of them on the K3 cable, and I just tested a
pair.  It took oveer 8 pounds of weight to dislodge the connection.
The weight of a fully loaded K3 is 8.5 pounds, so you could not quite
hold the K3 up with the power cord, but the basic K3/10 should be able
to dangle on the power cord without breaking the connection (but, I am
certainly not going to try that with MY K3 :-) ).

73,
Don W3FPR

Brett Howard wrote:
 > Thats 25 pounds of pull to pull the metal bit out of the plastic bit...
 > But it should require 3-5 pounds (depending on what connector detent
  ...snip...
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73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
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