Anderson
Powerpole Ideas: Get Everyone Connected!
Anderson Power Products and Powerpole® connectors. We have been doing research on this product and here are some of our findings. This overview may be familiar. Most of this information was found from different sources on the Internet and several Web links are listed on this page. We hope this will offer some new insight into how to go about integrating this Anderson Powerpole product into everyone's emergency power equipment needs. Our suggested attempts at leveling the playing field.. Also, keeping costs reasonable for the high-tech low budget practical minded Amateur in all of us. We are not experts and have no affiliation with the manufacturers or sales vendors mentioned. If you have something to contribute to this page and topic please send us your ideas and comments.
Introductions:
Powerpoles are not just another plug..
|
|
The 30 Amp size along with 12 gauge red/black zip-cord seems to be
the
best overall choice for most applications and numerous other groups
have
adopted it.
|
for a better understanding as to how they work. |
 |
 |
 |
Ref: Standard Powerpole® Family PP30 (30 amp) Data Sheet (PDF)
|
|
| "The Anderson Powerpole is genderless":
meaning
the supply and load connectors are the same.
This was a little hard to visualize, and truly didn't understand the benefits, until actually assembling a few connectors and power-cords. All small assemblies. They now become modular units. Segmented. Just mix and match. Depends on the need. The only problem we ran across was the Whatt Meter. It can be easily hooked up backwards and the reason for the additional labels. The bad part of genderless perhaps. The assemblies with 2 fuses are for battery or power supply hookup connections. Thanks to Steve, K9DCI for suggesting this clarification. More about the Whatt Meter and assembly ideas below. |
The connectors molding plastic housings are designed in such a way that they can slide or dovetail together and interlock into a compact unit. They do provide a solid electrical contact and with technology that should give every user years of good service. The manufacturer provides a channel between the 2 separate housings for the insertion of a ¼ inch metal roller pin to hold the assembly together.
|
|
 |
|
|
Our Suggestion #1:
Keeping everything together but also still field serviceable.
Not to say the roller pin is a bad idea. In doing some
research and comparisons we have read some concerns from other States
ARES/RACES
Groups over the possibility of the roller pin falling out and into the
transceiver or other equipment causing damage. A commonly
suggested
solution is a drop of superglue on the roller pin to help prevent
this.
Cementing the connectors creates another issue, because there is still
some controversy as to standards of “red plug on the left side or
right”,
from different Emergency Communications Groups. Still some
inconsistency… In our minds a wire tie seems to be an easy safe
and
cheap alternative if the need ever arises to swap positions.
|
Wire ties to hold assembled connectors from coming apart. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
very useful in keeping things plugged together. |
 |
 |
|
Ref: Standard Powerpole® Family BLOK-LOK 2 poles PP 10/45 Clamps (PDF). |
Our Suggestion #2: Looking
for the right tool to use but still cost effective.
Having one very expensive tool just for crimping didn't make a lot
of sense to us. Prices ranging from up to and over $150.00
just
for a wire crimper seemed somewhat bewildering...(gulp) Not
exactly
a cheap-to-keep something to be lending out or taking outside for Field
Day activities, and without a built in homing beacon. Besides
these
are just little crimped wire ends that are getting an additional
coating
of solder for better continuity after…come on…how hard can that be??
|
We tend to lean more toward multipurpose than specific use items. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Face the seam in the connector barrel toward the opposite or concave side of the crimper jaws. (what were we thinking..) |
GB Tool Item #: 515949 This 6" needle nose pliers combines a number of useful functions. 4-in-1 long-nose pliers with built-in wire stripper, wire cutter, zip cord divider with crimp sleeve nests, and serrated jaws. Insulated comfort grip handle. This GB tool will do a great job crimping 30 Amp Powerpoles plus a whole lot more and costs under $10.00 Small size too, makes it a perfect addition for the Go-Kits or Field Day Toolbox.
Ref: doitbest.com: "Do it" Electrician's Pliers
Radio Shack sells a somewhat similar item for even less.
RS Catalog #: 64-1847 for about
$5.00 but, Jack, N1JLW tells us he had to visit 2 different
locations
before finding a good pair to purchase. He suggests looking very
closely at the mating surface of the sleeve crimping area because of
some
product inconsistency. So, if it doesn't line up perfect
don't
buy it! Still a good deal.
Ref: Radio Shack: 6" All Purpose Pliers
Our Suggestion #3:
Taking a close look at some of the new gadgets coming out... a Whatt
Meter?
With all the money you just saved from being thrifty in the tool
department
perhaps it's now time to splurge on something like this..
Ref: Astro Flight Super Whatt Meter® (the next best thing to a Star Trek Tricorder)
|
|
This is truly Star Wars stuff! An amazing little
in-line
device that will accurately read Volts, Amps, Watts, and mA/hrs, all at
the same time. Accurately reads up to 75 amps! It can fit
in
your shirt pocket. And now comes from several Ham equipment
vendors
with a pair of PowerPoles for about $70.00 average.
 |
 |
 |
|
Another good label is one with your Amateur call sign placed on the backside of this item. Just in case it somehow becomes misplaced ...stuff happens...best avoided.. |
Some Assembly Required: Batteries
Not Included... Miscellaneous Stuff.
Now it's time for the fun part. Building
ideas and all the neat new gadgets. Keep a few assemblies for the
workshop test bench too.
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| A first nights project and cleaning out the oddball parts box. Endless possibilities! |
 |
aka: The BIG Eraser Theory! Cheapest way to start over, do repairs, and/or recycle housings. Keep a dozen or so in the roadside repair kit for Field Day! |
|
|
| Just take your time. Don't rush it.. It will come out. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Harrell KC5GSF: Keeping
Anderson Power Poles Together: I bought 1 piece of shrink-wrap
tubing for large commercial wiring harnesses [at the local Altex
store], cut the pieces into pieces ½ to ¾ inches long,
slid these over the pair and applied heat and they are tight but easy
to separate if need be with a pocket knife.
Harrell Z. Browning KC5GSF |
||||||
| Doug KM4FI: I
discovered
Powerpoles through this site and others, and although I am not
currently
active on the air, I could see the advantages of Powerpoles for other
uses,
specifically modular model railroad layouts. After over a year of
work, Powerpoles are about to be adopted by the nationwide NTRAK as an
alternate to the two pin Cinch-Jones connector for N-scale modular
use.
See http://home.comcast.net/~dstuard/powerpoles/NtrakPowerpole.htm 73 es gud DX! 09/24/05 Reply: Hi Doug, Great stuff!!! Thanks for checking out the WebPages and sending this message about another alternative use of Anderson Powerpole connectors. Hopefully, the availability of this product will increase with more mainstream use. I've read that these connectors were very popular with model car hobby enthusiasts well before our Amateur Radio community ever got hold of them. Now model railroad use.. Just think! If this keeps up, someday even RadioShack or Wal-Mart may carry them!! You never know...;-) Is it okay if we post this info on the Powerpole page? Thanks, 73 Steven W. Merrill, KB1DIG Emergency Coordinator Amateur Radio Emergency Service Strafford County, New Hampshire http://www.w1fz.org/ares Doug KM4FI: Hi Steve! Thanks for the kind words. The thing that attracted me to Powerpoles was the simplicity and performance, as well as the cost. The national NTRAK standard established over 30 years ago specified 2 pin Cinch-Jones plugs and sockets. I’ve used them for over 40 years, but availability has become a problem in recent years, and the connectors have been proven to be problematical after many mate/unmate cycles. That, coupled with the rapid expansion of Digital Command Control (DCC), whereby many locomotives can share the same track at once, raised the performance requirements for inter-module connections (as well as wiring standards, with #18 giving way to #12). As usual, its hams leading the way! Feel free to link to my pages or to the national NTRAK site ( http://www.ntrak.org ) as you like. The final version of the RP should be released soon. 73, 09/24/05 Reply: Hi Doug, Thank you! Should have it posted on the page in the next few days too. If not, over the weekend. We've been known to build some interesting contraptions with powerpoles.
I'm not big on buying
the commercial
pre-made stuff. If I build it myself and something breaks it's
usually
easier to fix....usually...;-) |
||||||
Jim W2NSF: .....Here's an idea for
keeping powerpole
plugs connected; it's just a piece of 10 guage solid copper wire.....
.....By the way, the fixture you see in the photo is what I use to recharge lead-acid batteries using a regular car battery charger. I just put the charger's clamps on the two terminals and plug it into the battery's powerpole plug...... |
||||||
| John W1JAB: (related
topic)
Here is the nifty little thing. I think it is pretty cool. It handles
20A
through the fuse and 7.5A into the little feed tab. They are also not
expensive.
Good for FM mobile and such - but probably can't handle too much in the
way of HF with the high amperage draws.
It is called an “Access-a-Fuse”. Their website is: http://www.accessafuse.com/ I used one to install Sue’s new dual band mobile rig. Be aware that the fuse is a two part thing: the internal fuse is a 20amp fuse. The external blade is rated to 7 amps. ~John |
||||||
| Fred N0IBD: I have found that a 1/2
inch long
leg staple (the kind used in common constuction staple guns) fits
perfectly
in the two holes formed by a joined set of positive and negitive power
poles. This make a secure connection when you bend the legs over,
yet is easy to remove. One box will do several hondred connections, and
secures the load and source sides with no fuss,muss,or cost.
73's N0IBD 01/20/05 Reply: Hi Fred, Great idea for locking sets together!! Can you send an image and/or the info (mod/size/#s) on the package of staples? Also, is it okay with you if we post this info on our Powerpole Webpage? Others should try this too. Thank you for taking the
time!! Fred N0IBD: Hi Steve, Sure, I'd be pleased if you posted the idea. Sorry I do not have a picture and I threw out the staple pacage, but they are labled (1/2 inch long leg staples). The kind that are made by many different manufactures and fit in regular type staple guns. You can find them in any hardware store. And since staples like this are galvanized, they withstand the elements well in out door installations. One point that should be made on installation--- to keep the connection tight--- the legs of the staple shoud be bent toward each other on the backside of the joined powerpoles!!!! If the ends of the staples are bent away from each other, it will loosen the connetion. 73's N0IBD Fred 01/24/05 Reply: Hi Fred, I should have everything posted in a few days. Not a big deal in the images. I think I will poke around Home Depot and look for these staples. Give it a try. Interesting idea!! Thank you!
|
||||||
| Chad W1CAR: Steve,
Love your Powerpole page! Tons of useful information. Just wanted to give you some links to my homemade version of a Rigrunner. My design was inspired by WD4BIS's design, but was made with common parts found at Radio Shack and hardware stores. The original design is kinda ugly: http://www.147300.com/projects/powerpoledistributionproject.htm But the newest designs I created http://www.147300.com/projects/powerpoleproject-revisited.htm are looking great (at least to me!) Tell me what you think and if you like feel free to link to my site and post this email on your page. Just wanted to offer a link with my Powerpole projects to add to your already great website! BTW, I'm going to start creating my own "The Box" tomorrow. Just need to buy some stuff first. 73 -Chad W1CAR 11/14/04 Reply: Hi Chad, Thanks for stopping in a checking out our Ham Page. Kim and I have a lot of fun working on projects like the powerpole page. Has become a great way to give something back to the hobby, for us too. Thanks for the great links and info. Will post it sometime today in the comments section. That Rigrunner thing cost big bucks. I kind-a did something along the same lines for my deep-cell marine battery; http://home.comcast.net/~buck0/battery-box2.jpg looks good...to me too....for a lot lot less $$$....ha ha. "Tigertail" HT
Counterpoise: http://www.147300.com/projects/tigertail.htm
Good luck with your Box
Project!!
Keep us posted...;-) |
||||||
| Mike K6MFW: Reading Suggestion #2
"Oops.. A common
mistake.. These last 2 images are incorrect. Face the seam
in the connector barrel toward the opposite or concave side of the
crimper
jaws. (what were we thinking..)"
I thought this was the way to do it and the image, http://www.westmountainradio.com/Image/rigrunner/pp30step1.jpg on West Mountain radio has the seam opposite the concave. Can you clarify this for me? I have a zillion powerpole connections and I want to start implementing the ARC here at Ames Research Center with powerpoles. The http://home.comcast.net/~buck0/app.htm powerpole webpage is really great. I didn't consider some of the engineering behind the connectors that the first three images show. The images showing different powercord assemblies, I already have some of those! I did make some extended DC power cords using conventional 120VAC workshop extension cords (12awg wires). These cables are nice and flexible (not stiff like heavy gauge DC cables) and lowcost from the hardware store. I snipped off the wallplug and receptacle and put a powerpole connector on each end. Well, there is an extra wire in the extension cable but not a showstopper. I made a couple of these plus one that I put a cig lighter plug on one end. These give flexibility for mobile/field operations. Michael Wright, K6MFW 8/11/04 Reply: Hi Michael, Thanks for checking out the Hampage. Kim and I have a lot of fun doing projects like this together. Sorry for the confusions. >>>The best way to do it is the way it is shown in the image from West Mountain radio.<<< We presented our versions as a way to spice up the article a little. Shows that it's easy to get a little mixed-up while performing the assembly. The only other advice is
to make
sure and solder the connection afterwards. Very crucial!!!
(Our opinion) Be careful not to get solder on the blade contact
surface.
Apply solder to the wire and heat to the barrel connector, right where
the two join-up, seems to works best. What we use is the small
portable
soldering iron sold at RadioShack. Handy little gadget.
Something Great idea with the powercords too!! Thanks!! Also, is it okay if we post this message you sent on our Powerpoles Webpage? Always best to ask first...;-) 73 Mike K6MFW: > >>>The best way to do it is the way it is shown in the image from West Mountain radio.<<< >We presented our versions as a way to spice up the article a little. Shows that it's easy to get a little mixed-up while performing the assembly. I looked at the west mountain again and it does show the seam opposite the concave so I assume that is the way to do it (I've done it opposite all this time). >The only other advice is to make sure and
solder the
connection afterwards. You mean this is really necessary? It seems the solder joint will contribute to fatiguing. We have crimp type contacts for very small gauge wires and we tell everyone to not solder. >Also, is it okay if we post this message you sent on our Powerpoles Webpage? Yes you may. I wrote it up real quick so feel free to wordsmith as necessary. I can take pictures and send them to you. Mike 8/12/04 Reply: Hi Michael, This seam thing is interesting. I know of a few fellow hams who do it the other way too. They claim it doesn't distort the connector's barrel section as much. This will probably mess you up all over again...;-) Perhaps it's okay just to hold things in place before soldering. Strain relief. Good point. What I've done for smaller gauge wire is used a small section of shrink tubing on each side of the wire & connector assembly. I try to catch the bottom of the barrel connector about midway. Then shrink the tube. Then push it into the plastic housing. Seems to help. I've heard others use stuff like RTV, hot glue, or clear silicone injected into the back side (wire side) of the plastic housing. Kind of makes it harder to pull things apart this way. I always find the need to change stuff around. So, I like to be able to start over...recycle...keeps costs lower...;-) Not to say my way is the best. There are a lot of experts out there...hi hi This is just what works on this end. rr fb Will get ready post this sometime soon. Will wait for the images first. Thanks!! 73,
Here are some photos attached of my 12VDC cable using conventional 115VAC extension cable. This is a typical power extension cable from the hardware store. Although there are three conductors, this cable has durability for field operations and thick cable does not get tangled up like small cable. It is also flexible, so it does not curl up like most heavy gauge DC power cables. In one photo it shows the typical powerpole cable normally under the floor carpet of my car. The extension cable plugs right into it. I also fabbed a cable with a cigarette lighter plug. I wrapped some electrical tape since that is what I have at this time. The other cable has shrink-tubing on the powerpole connector. Crop, reduce or whatever to the attached photos as you see fit. Mike K6MFW 8/17/04 Reply: Hi Mike, Thank you for all the great images. The extension cable idea looks really slick!! Somehow I was thinking orange colored cables.. White looks more appealing. Starting a folder. Will make some thumbnails and post all of them with the text you sent. Kim will look everything over for spelling and grammar. Check back by the weekend. Should have them all posted by then. I think I'll have Thursday and/or Friday off this week. Not always sure...;-) Will get it done then. Be good! Mike K6MFW: >them with the text you sent. Kim will look everything over for spelling and >grammar. Check back by the weekend. Should have them all posted by then. OK, do whatever that needs to be done. Mike
Mike K6MFW: Steve, In regards to crimping small wires, I put together a website discussing this type of situation. The article was written by one of our engineers who points out that a poor connection will fail at the worst time like in the middle of grave shift ("the wire may break at 3 am"). http://windtunnels.arc.nasa.gov/balcallab/taperinstall.html Mike |
||||||
| Gery K2GW: Jerry Wellman, W7SAR, of
Utah ARES
recently told me that Utah ARES has now switched to the California
standard
orientation for the 30 amp Anderson Powerpole. This makes the Powerpole
orientation used in commercial products such as the West Mountain Radio
RigRunner standard across the country. Utah was the originator of the
idea,
so they get credit for now switching to match everyone else!
A couple of additional PowerPole notes. At Dayton in 2002, I found four people selling them. In 2003 there were a dozen. This year they were everywhere! In addition to West Mountain Radio, three other vendors are now making commercial 12VDC distribution panels using the 30 Amp Powerpoles in the ARES/RACES standard orientation. Also, West Mountain Radio had a tool manufacturer make a custom ratcheting crimper with a die that handles the 15, 30 and 45 amp Powerpole contacts. It does a full roll crimp with reverse side dimple in about five seconds! They were selling like hotcakes at Dayton and I couldn't resist buying one myself. You can find it online at http://www.westmountainradio.com/PWRcrimp.htm 73 & keep on standardizing all of your 12VDC connections! Gary Wilson, K2GW 5/23/04 Reply: Hi Gary, Thank you for checking out the Ham page. Kim and I have a lot of fun doing projects like this. Great info on the integration of powerpoles. Interesting stuff. Kim and I were guest speakers for one of the symposiums on 9/11 at the 2002 Dayton Hamvention. As you say, It was tough finding Powerpoles. There were also perhaps 6 vendors selling powerpoles at Hosstraders this spring in Hopkinton, NH. That's a lot for this local Flea event too. As the new EC for Strafford County, New Hampshire, I started selling (2) sets for $2.00. Not to make money. Just to get others started on the idea. Seems to work okay. I repackaged them in sets of 2, with one pair of the plastic pieces pre-assembled. A new project Kim and I are working on, is "The Box Revisited". This is our new generation portable em-comm station setup "with powerpoles". Will show-up for debut at our local Field-Day in Rochester, NH. Still just a 2-meter setup. 2-meter FM still presently seems to be the band of choice for most of the short range em-comm in our neck of the woods. Will someday need to repackage the Kenwood ts-2000 for outside activities.. Change is good! Also, is it okay if we post this message on our Powerpole Ideas page. Will be a great addition. Up to you. Thank you!
|
||||||
| Joel KB1KBD: Howdy,
You may have already seen this site but I
though I'd pass
it along just in case. 73, Joel, KB1KBD |
||||||
| Gery K2GW: In case you haven't
noticed,
the 12 VDC power connector standard based on the 30 amp Anderson
Powerpole
has really taken off. In addition to the fine RigRunner
distribution
panels made by West Mountain Radio http://www.westmountainradio.com/, two other vendors now make competing products, but also using the same connector and polarity. One is the Saratoga Amateur Products
Powerpanel which
can be seen at The other new product is a Powerpole based
distribution
panel Many of the "parts guys" at the various hamfests are now also carrying the connectors as well as the major ham retail outlets. It will be interesting to see which of the power supply manufacturers will be the first to use them in their power supply as an addition to binding posts. My new Astron SS-25M has knockouts on the rear panel that are just about the right size. When the warranty is up, that will be a modification I'll soon add! 73 Gary Wilson |
||||||
| Martin KB0HAE: Having had
problems with
crimped connections some years ago, I have soldered all my connectors
for
years. The Anderson PowerPole connectors are easy to
solder.
Excess solder can be removed with a small file. Just be sure not
to get any excess solder on the mating parts of the connector.
Also,
if your assembled connectors come apart too easily, just remove the
plastic
housing, and carefully bend the mating (curved) part of the connector
so
that it has just slightly more curve. Re-assemble and it should now be
secure. After 2 years of use (I put them on all my ham gear) I
have
not had a connection come apart accidentally. -- Cul8r Martin Campbell KBØHAE |
||||||
| David KD4CLJ: Greetings..
We've been using the Powerpole for about 7 years down in NC. Love them, love the rigrunner, all very good. A: Orientation: Red goes on the Left, Black on the Right, remember RED and LEFT have fewer letters! As does PORT vs. STARBOARD...(for us nautical hams). Look at it from the cable side, not the equipment side. B: For the roll pin, get some GOOP from Walmart, keep in toolbox. Squirt in the hole, removable like hot glue, but don't need gun, glue sticks, etc. So less to carry.. Also use Goop on Antenna connections, RG barrel connectors, etc., on the outside to provide temporary water seal. C: I have always soldered, not crimped, the metal connections, then squirted a shot of Goop down the shaft of the plastic housing after inserting the contact, to keep corrosion from getting at the copper in the wire... That will usually be the point at which, if it breaks, it will break! D: Instead of the plastic ties, use the velcro ones used for tying computer cables together (I've even seen a tape/velcro used in the supermarkets to hold bunches of asparagus together!) Velcro is removable, you don't have to clip it to change! Additionally, I have gotten in the past some Green covers, which I was told to use for GROUND, in the case of 3-wire AC applications. I also recently ran into a set of 50A powerpoles..WoW! good matchup for the RigRunner! 73, David Bodman, KD4CLJ |
||||||
| Dan N8YSZ: Hi!
I'm reading your Power Poles page -- I'd like to suggest you take a look at the Klein 1005 crimp too. It is a bit more expensive than the pliers that you suggest, but, the longer handles make a BIG difference for getting secure crimps. They're available at Sears, among other places: http://www.epinions.com/hmgd-Shop_Tools-All-Klein_Crimping_Tool_1005 http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=klein+1005&btnG=Froogle+Search 73 N8YSZ. |
||||||
| Ron N8APZ: Very nice and
informative website!!
You may want to consider adding a direct link to West Mountain Web site for the Rigrunner. It is a very nice 12V DC distribution panel. We have one in our ARES trailer and I use one at home. Also, the crimping pliers that several sell, GB (Gardner Bender) GS88 is very nice and well worth the $10 73, Ron N8APZ
|
||||||
| Gery K2GW: Attached
is the compilation I did about a year ago for the SEC Discussion Group.
I'll bet it's a lot higher now. There have been four articles in
QST this past year mentioning powerpoles as well as now three
commercial
manufacturers of distribution panels using the California
standard.
Another points to consider showing how it's sweeping the ham community. At Dayton in 2002 I counted 4 vendors selling Powerpoles; in 2003 there were fifteen. I now see them regularly sold at local hamfests as well. We saturated our own area by having a local club buy them 250 at a time and then resell them in baggies of 6 for $5.00. The club makes a small profit and folks get them at a cheaper price. Also there are three inexpensive (compared to the official $150 Anderson tool) tools available to crimp them: The Gardner Bender GS88 tool is available at
Lowes and
Home Depot for about $7.00 The following page shows some of the tricks. The folding over of thin gauge wire to fill the barrel before crimping is one I do a lot. This avoids having to keep the smaller barreled 15 amp contacts around. http://www.wakeares.org/powerpole/index2.html 73 Gary Wilson, K2GW |
||||||
| Gery K2GW: I love your Powerpole
site.
I discovered Powerpoles about two years when I searched the internet to
determine what was the most appropriate standard for our section.
Powerpoles were the most obvious choice and used by over 80% of the
ARRL
sections at that time having a standard. Now it's nearly 100%. My
white paper is attached.
A couple of comments based on your site: "there is still some controversy as to standards of "red plug on the left side or right", from different Emergency Communications Groups. Still some inconsistency" Actually about the only place not using the "California Standard" for 12VDC powerpoles (the one you picture on your site) is Utah. Utah was one of the early adopters of Powerpoles but with the reversed orientation. However, just about every other place in the country other than Utah uses the "California Standard" including the three manufacturers of commercial Amateur radio 12VDC distribution panels as well as the RC aircraft crowd as demonstrated by the "Whatmeter" . I believe Utah is migrating to the what has become the national standard. Also. I heard some reservations about the roll pin falling out, but having placed Powerpoles on over two hundred devices over the past few years, it's not really a problem, if you just make sure the two shells are just slightly out of alignment so the resulting hole is not perfectly round. If your paranoid about them falling out, I agree that you don't want to use superglue, but hot melt glue from a glue gun works pretty well and can be removed simply by dipping the connector in boiling water. Also to keep two pair of connectors together, if the crimps are done correctly, it takes about 5 to 7 pounds of effort to separate them. If it takes, less you've flattened the angle too much during crimping. If I'm pulling with five pounds of force on a power cable, I WANT the connector to separate, not the wire! But if you need additional security, instead of tie wraps you can use rubber bands, electrical tape or adhesive Velcro as well as the cable locks Anderson sells. Keep up the good work 73 Gary Wilson, K2GW |
||||||
| Doug KF6ZLB: I sent the
information about
AMP power connectors to you in case you were interested in the fact
that
there might be a second source for the connectors.
In one of the electronic trade magazines, I saw a press release on a new AMP (division of Tyco) power connector. After reading the description and looking at the picture, I realized that this must be identical to an Anderson Powerpole connector. I cannot find much information on the AMP website. But I did find reference to an applicator for and an AMP cross reference to the 30-amp contacts on reels (contacts are Anderson Part No. 261G1): AMP P/N for applicator for reeled 30-amp
Anderson contact
261G1: 680807-3 This information was found on web page: http://tooling.tycoelectronics.com/applcomp.stm (Alphabetized by company name; scroll down to "Anderson") |
||||||
| Pete AB9DZ: The best way of
securing powerpoles
is hot melt glue thru the center hole. Try it you'll like it!
Kim KB1GTR: ...Steve just tried this idea today and says it acts just like a plastic rivet! |
More assembly tips, crimper tools, and general information on the Web:
Powerwerx: Ref: Crimping Tool for 15, 30 & 75 Amp Powerpoles
West Mountain Radio: Ref: POWERPOLE CONNECTOR GENERAL INSTALLATION TIPS
http://www.wakeares.org/powerpole/
http://www.wakeares.org/powerpole/index2.html
http://www.prc68.com:80/I/PowerPole.shtml
http://www.andersonpower.com/products/pdf/stdpp_assy.pdf
http://www.emaares.com/ppole.htm
http://www.scc-ares-races.org/hardware/andersonpp.html
http://marc.qc.ca/powerpole.html
http://www.epower2go.biz/en-us/dept_119.html
http://www.qsl.net/w2vtm/powerpole.html
THE BOX: PORTABLE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS STATION IDEAS
GO KIT: DAILY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS GEAR IDEAS
Please send us your ideas and comments.
Send E-mail to: buck0@comcast.net
Good
luck building! Kim KB1GTR & Steve KB1DIG
