[Elecraft] K3 Powerpole Replacement

[Don Wilhelm]

Jeff,

I am not sure what your circumstances are, but I have found that the APP 
connectors are more durable than the Molex connectors typically used by 
the YakIcKenwood gear.

Perhaps you do not have any slack in the cables, and any movement of 
either the cable or the gear will create a force sufficient to separate 
the connector.  A bit of slack in the cable should prevent that condition.

73,
Don W3FPR


On 12/8/2013 10:42 PM, Jeff Cochrane wrote:
> On Mon, 09 Dec 2013 13:01:06 +1000, Don Wilhelm <w3fpr at embarqmail.com> 
> wrote:
> Hi Don,
> Thanks for the reply but I'm talking about Elecraft factory installed 
> APP's both in the radio and on the cable.
>
> I have also made my own cables using genuine and non-genuine APP's and 
> they are exactly the same, they will NOT stay together under actual 
> portable operating conditions.
>
> Upon inspection through a magnifying glass all connectors I have here 
> are indeed assembled correctly and this is the SECOND K3 I've with 
> similar issues. (The first radio I had owned from new (#4257))
>
> In the case of my first K3 it would overheat the connectors that were 
> soldered into the PCB!
> Granted it had an issue with extremely poor soldering of the 
> connectors but the fact remains that on that radio and the one I 
> presently own, the APP's are not up to snuff.
> They just do not grip each other well enough to cope with the rigours 
> of operating portable in the bush and other adverse environments.
> Hence my desire to change out the APP's and go for something that is 
> considerably tougher.
>
> I've also had a few emails off the list so far that are also detailing 
> similar issues and doubts with APP's and I have no doubt that I will 
> be getting more.
>
> I guess that I've found the reason why APP's are not an approved 
> connector for any emergency gear by any emergency authority in any 
> country as they are just too unreliable.
>
> As I live in an area that regularly gets cyclones (hurricanes) and 
> flooding each year I want be be able to rely on my gear in case of an 
> emergency as well as my normal day to day operations, therefore I 
> really want to ditch these unreliable connectors and get something 
> decent installed.
>
> So my question stands, what are my alternatives?
>
>