[Elecraft] K3 Powerpole Replacement

[Charlie T, K3ICH]

I'd take good old Jones Plugs any day over APP's, for all factors, current 
rating, ease of use, reliability, cost AND re-usability.

Soldered connections (no crimps) and they have simple locking ears that are 
easier to use than the Molex squeezer.

But then again, I'm a dinosaur wishing for a situation that will never be 
(kinda like our country now).

73, Charlie k3ICH


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Don Wilhelm" <don at w3fpr.com>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, December 09, 2013 12:07 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Powerpole Replacement


> 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?
>>
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html