[Elecraft] Anderson Power Poles?

[Edward R Cole]

I had the experience that my West Mountain assembled PP cable pulled 
loose from the crimped connection when I tripped over it (yeah 
extreme situation).  I could not figure out how to extract the pin to 
repair it.  I bought three pre-made cables when I got a specially 
made power cable for my FT-817 that uses a very tiny power connector 
that "really" is not tolerant of stressing.  One was for connection 
in the shack and the other in my pickup.  The third was used with the 
K3 until the trip mishap.  Its now in the repair bin.  I made up a PP 
cable to replace the broken one using the 15A pins which should be 
adequate for the K3/10.

The PP that I made up myself I soldered vs.crimping with no 
failures.  I noted the lack of pins and someone told me they slide 
together and I have found the friction adequate.  I'll try the Q-tip 
"pin", if needed.  But there is no stress relief and the connection 
takes all the mechanical stress on the wires, directly.

Jury is out on PP connectors in my mind, but the ham community 
(ARRL/ARES) seems to really be pushing them for a nation-wide Emcomm standard.

Most of my station's control/dc wiring is interconnected using crimp 
connectors and barrier terminal strips.  My new SO2R control panel 
uses sub-D9 and sub-D25 connectors, with a few RCA-phono connectors 
for often disconnected lines.  (I will post a webpage with diagrams 
and photos, soon)

73, Ed - KL7UW

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Message: 18
Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 09:03:31 -0400 (EDT)
From: K4IA at aol.com
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Anderson Power Poles?
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID: <a71b3.6b02377d.3959f7a3 at aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

After watching the PP connectors on my K3 wiggle around at Field  Day, I
have to question again why Elecraft chose these toads-in-a-tuxedo for a
connector.  PP are way over-rated.  The only strain relief 
they  provide is when
they come apart - which is often.  I suppose we could  call that defect an
undocumented "feature."   A simple molex  would have been fine and a whole
lot more secure.

But not to start a flame war over PPs, I'll stay positive.  Anyone  have
any ideas on how to better secure the PP in the K3?  Mine wiggles and  I am
thinking about some hot glue.

Buck
k4ia K3 #101



73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
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