[Elecraft] Power Poles...

[Edward R Cole]

Labeling is a good idea, and probably not become a potential for an 
error if your station is static (you assemble it and never make a 
change).  But someone like me that is always 
building/modifying/rearranging the hookups, labels (alone) will not 
prevent an "accident".  I run my 28v power to a separate barrier 
terminal strip from the 12v distribution, and make it a 100% process 
to always measure the voltage of a new connection with a vtvm before 
connecting to the equipment.  Same rule for making new cables (check 
polarity and continuity before use).

But realizing that I am "human" I used distinctly different 
connectors for running HV and other level voltages.  Never use a RF 
connector for dc.  So my 3.6 kV PS cannot physically be connected to 
the wrong connector (they look like BNC but are MHV and will not 
mate).  Lots of caveats in construction philosophy!

Another thing I am doing these days is making connection diagrams and 
schematics for everything.  I keep them in a master drawing 3-ring 
notebook so always handy for a moments reference if I have a senior 
moment and do not recall exactly how it is supposed to go.  Very 
handy in troubleshooting when stuff doesn't work.  I operate 16-bands 
600m-3cm, 17-antennas, three towers, and one dish (If I have counted 
correctly).  I have 26 coax connections to outside the 
shack.  Keeping track is not trivial ;-)

73, Ed - KL7UW

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Message: 37
Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:48:20 -0500
From: Grant Youngman <nq5t at tx.rr.com>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Power Poles...
To: Elecraft Email <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID: <BB0D0817-CE18-4305-A85C-E9A84F56AB2A at tx.rr.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

That was the point.

The other point was -- How hard is it to build a power pole 
connector, put it together properly,  and LABEL the darn thing to 
avoid disasters like plugging a 24v supply into a 12v radio?  :-)

Grant/NQ5T



73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
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