Power Pole Connectors
 

Decided to Power Pole all the 12V gear here (Why I ever decided to put
a detachable 12V lead via an octal plug/socket combination on my HB
QRP 80M rig is beyond me!) and discovered Torberry down in Waterlooville,
Hants.

Ordered enough yesterday, and prompt delivery today!

Well done that firm! (No connection with them (apart from the Power Poles
:-) ) )

Power Pole Connectors
 

"gareth" wrote:
Decided to Power Pole all the 12V gear here (Why I ever decided to put
a detachable 12V lead via an octal plug/socket combination on my HB
QRP 80M rig is beyond me!) and discovered Torberry down in Waterlooville,
Hants.

Ordered enough yesterday, and prompt delivery today!

Well done that firm! (No connection with them (apart from the Power Poles
:-) ) )

Did they come with a manual? If so, are all pages present?

--
STC // M0TEY // twitter.com/ukradioamateur

Power Pole Connectors
 

"gareth" wrote in message
...
Decided to Power Pole all the 12V gear here (Why I ever decided to put
a detachable 12V lead via an octal plug/socket combination on my HB
QRP 80M rig is beyond me!) and discovered Torberry down in Waterlooville,
Hants.

Ordered enough yesterday, and prompt delivery today!

Well done that firm! (No connection with them (apart from the Power Poles
:-) ) )


For a good number of years a friend and I used some 2 pin Molex type plugs
for the 12 volt power so they would all interchange. They were not rated for
the current of the later devices and started to be difficult to find.

We have now switched over to the power poles like some of the rest of the
country. There is a recommended way to pair them up as sort of a 'standard'
so people in different parts of the country can swap out the gear if wanted.

While there are several varities of them, they make some that use the same
plastic housing and the contacts are different only in the size of wire
they are made for. I think it is the 15, 30,45 amp ones that are that way.

I hope you spent afew more dollars and bought the crimping tool for them.
Makes instlling them well worth the $ 20 or for the tool.

Power Pole Connectors
 

On 16/01/16 15:51, Ralph Mowery wrote:



For a good number of years a friend and I used some 2 pin Molex type plugs
for the 12 volt power so they would all interchange. They were not rated for
the current of the later devices and started to be difficult to find.

We have now switched over to the power poles like some of the rest of the
country. There is a recommended way to pair them up as sort of a 'standard'
so people in different parts of the country can swap out the gear if wanted.

While there are several varities of them, they make some that use the same
plastic housing and the contacts are different only in the size of wire
they are made for. I think it is the 15, 30,45 amp ones that are that way.

I hope you spent afew more dollars and bought the crimping tool for them.
Makes instlling them well worth the $ 20 or for the tool.



I generally solder mine but I should really invest in a crimp tool, it
is far less fiddly.

It is also worth investing in some of the accessories- eg the PVC
'boots' and panel mount holders, plus the pins to 'lock' blocks of
connectors together if you are making your own multi-way connectors.

The plastic clips to hold a 'back to back' pair together are also
useful, especially if there is any risk of the connectors being pulled
apart.

You can also get bushes to allow finer wire to be used in the larger
connectors.

The groove on the body of the shell can by used to lock the connector in
a plastic or metal box, at the top edge. Handy for homebrewing. I use a
small plastic box and fit a resetable fuse inside to convert the various
handheld leads to powerpower.



--
Why you should not ignore animal neglect and cruelty:
http://www.caar-uk.org/why.html

Power Pole Connectors
 

"Ralph Mowery" wrote in message
...
"gareth" wrote in message
...
Decided to Power Pole all the 12V gear here (Why I ever decided to put
a detachable 12V lead via an octal plug/socket combination on my HB
QRP 80M rig is beyond me!) and discovered Torberry down in Waterlooville,
Hants.
Ordered enough yesterday, and prompt delivery today!
Well done that firm! (No connection with them (apart from the Power
Poles

For a good number of years a friend and I used some 2 pin Molex type plugs
for the 12 volt power so they would all interchange. They were not rated
for the current of the later devices and started to be difficult to find.

We have now switched over to the power poles like some of the rest of the
country. There is a recommended way to pair them up as sort of a
'standard' so people in different parts of the country can swap out the
gear if wanted.

While there are several varities of them, they make some that use the same
plastic housing and the contacts are different only in the size of wire
they are made for. I think it is the 15, 30,45 amp ones that are that
way.

I hope you spent afew more dollars and bought the crimping tool for them.
Makes instlling them well worth the $ 20 or for the tool.


No, couldn't find the accompanying advert for the crimpers so will probably
solder the connections
unless I can find a man who has the crimpers already. That is, unless I
fashion
a crimping block in my metal working workshop; how big is the hole for
the 30 Amp pins when the crimper is closed?

Power Pole Connectors
 

"gareth" wrote in message
...
"Ralph Mowery" wrote in message
...
"gareth" wrote in message
...
Decided to Power Pole all the 12V gear here (Why I ever decided to put
a detachable 12V lead via an octal plug/socket combination on my HB
QRP 80M rig is beyond me!) and discovered Torberry down in
Waterlooville, Hants.
Ordered enough yesterday, and prompt delivery today!
Well done that firm! (No connection with them (apart from the Power
Poles
For a good number of years a friend and I used some 2 pin Molex type
plugs for the 12 volt power so they would all interchange. They were not
rated for the current of the later devices and started to be difficult
to find.
We have now switched over to the power poles like some of the rest of the
country. There is a recommended way to pair them up as sort of a
'standard' so people in different parts of the country can swap out the
gear if wanted.
While there are several varities of them, they make some that use the
same plastic housing and the contacts are different only in the size of
wire they are made for. I think it is the 15, 30,45 amp ones that are
that way.
I hope you spent afew more dollars and bought the crimping tool for them.
Makes instlling them well worth the $ 20 or for the tool.
No, couldn't find the accompanying advert for the crimpers so will
probably solder the connections
unless I can find a man who has the crimpers already. That is, unless I
fashion
a crimping block in my metal working workshop; how big is the hole for
the 30 Amp pins when the crimper is closed?


No worries for the person who introduced me to Power Poles in practice, a
model
engineer for whom I was diagnosing a lock-up in the motor controller of his
5" gauge Class 45
diesel will lend me his crimper.

Power Pole Connectors
 

In article ,
"gareth" wrote:

"Ralph Mowery" wrote in message
...
"gareth" wrote in message
...
Decided to Power Pole all the 12V gear here (Why I ever decided to put
a detachable 12V lead via an octal plug/socket combination on my HB
QRP 80M rig is beyond me!) and discovered Torberry down in Waterlooville,
Hants.
Ordered enough yesterday, and prompt delivery today!
Well done that firm! (No connection with them (apart from the Power
Poles

For a good number of years a friend and I used some 2 pin Molex type plugs
for the 12 volt power so they would all interchange. They were not rated
for the current of the later devices and started to be difficult to find.

We have now switched over to the power poles like some of the rest of the
country. There is a recommended way to pair them up as sort of a
'standard' so people in different parts of the country can swap out the
gear if wanted.

While there are several varities of them, they make some that use the same
plastic housing and the contacts are different only in the size of wire
they are made for. I think it is the 15, 30,45 amp ones that are that
way.

I hope you spent afew more dollars and bought the crimping tool for them.
Makes instlling them well worth the $ 20 or for the tool.


No, couldn't find the accompanying advert for the crimpers so will probably
solder the connections
unless I can find a man who has the crimpers already. That is, unless I
fashion
a crimping block in my metal working workshop; how big is the hole for
the 30 Amp pins when the crimper is closed?

I also used the Molex 2-pin connectors for many years. It may have been
a Heathkit or an Icom FM radio that got me started. Then the local ARES
guys came up with a "standard" that was backwards from what I had! As
far as I can tell, the PowerPole standard is fairly universal.

I believe the 45 Amp terminals are open barrel, and the 30 Amp terminals
are cylindrical barrel. Before the expensive open barrel crimp tool was
introduced, they recommended a common Gardner-Bender tool that put a
deep dimple in the back of the 30 Amp barrel. You could open the barrel
slightly and use it with 10 AWG stranded wire.

Do not use tension pins to lock connector housings together. There is a
high probability they will come out, and could short-circuit any
electronic equipment they fall into. Instead, use super glue to join
them. Some are sold already glued together.

Other than tension pins falling out, the only other problem I've had was
when the terminal did not "click" when inserted into its housing.

Fred
K4DII

Power Pole Connectors
 

"gareth" wrote in message
...
"gareth" wrote in message
...
"Ralph Mowery" wrote in message
...
"gareth" wrote in message
...
Decided to Power Pole all the 12V gear here (Why I ever decided to put
a detachable 12V lead via an octal plug/socket combination on my HB
QRP 80M rig is beyond me!) and discovered Torberry down in
Waterlooville, Hants.
Ordered enough yesterday, and prompt delivery today!
Well done that firm! (No connection with them (apart from the Power
Poles
For a good number of years a friend and I used some 2 pin Molex type
plugs for the 12 volt power so they would all interchange. They were not
rated for the current of the later devices and started to be difficult
to find.
We have now switched over to the power poles like some of the rest of
the country. There is a recommended way to pair them up as sort of a
'standard' so people in different parts of the country can swap out the
gear if wanted.
While there are several varities of them, they make some that use the
same plastic housing and the contacts are different only in the size of
wire they are made for. I think it is the 15, 30,45 amp ones that are
that way.
I hope you spent afew more dollars and bought the crimping tool for
them. Makes instlling them well worth the $ 20 or for the tool.
No, couldn't find the accompanying advert for the crimpers so will
probably solder the connections
unless I can find a man who has the crimpers already. That is, unless I
fashion
a crimping block in my metal working workshop; how big is the hole for
the 30 Amp pins when the crimper is closed?
No worries for the person who introduced me to Power Poles in practice, a
model
engineer for whom I was diagnosing a lock-up in the motor controller of
his 5" gauge Class 45
diesel will lend me his crimper.

Borrowed it this morning, only to find that it's not an Anderson crimper
but a Draper one. Still, here goes ...

Power Pole Connectors
 

"gareth" wrote in message
...


A little disappointed as I had thought that the black and red ones wouldn't
interlink, but
this is only true of they're paired together as in the demo ...

http://www.g0hwc.com/anderson-powerpole.html

Power Pole Connectors
 

On 17/01/2016 14:39, gareth wrote:
"gareth" wrote in message
...


A little disappointed as I had thought that the black and red ones wouldn't
interlink, but
this is only true of they're paired together as in the demo ...

http://www.g0hwc.com/anderson-powerpole.html



ha ha suckered.....

--
Cheat your way through life, join the Freemasons
DIGITAL just doesn't work properly most of the time
Hammy Mens are not Radio Amateurs

Power Pole Connectors
 

"gareth" wrote in message
...
Decided to Power Pole all the 12V gear here

First sttempt at crimping seems to have failed because the connector would
not
slide easily into the shroud, and it was a devil of a job to get the hook
over the end of the flat spring.


Re-reading the gen, it would appear that the crimping has ended up too flat
such that even
when clipped in, there is no free movement of the wire end. portending a bad
contact if I continue.

(I expected to have to sacrifice the first attempt, but any suggestions,
please?)

Power Pole Connectors
 

" It is also worth investing in some of the accessories- eg the PVC
'boots' and panel mount holders, plus the pins to 'lock' blocks of
connectors together if you are making your own multi-way connectors. "

The Power Pole manufacturers love you guys ! Used to be you could just
simply hook up a piece of gear to your power supply - not they have ops
buying special tools, connectors, cables, boots and what have you
just to make a connection. What a racket! Turn a free activity into
something that costs you money.

73

On 01/18/2016 08:05 AM, gareth wrote:
"gareth" wrote in message
...
Decided to Power Pole all the 12V gear here

First sttempt at crimping seems to have failed because the connector would
not
slide easily into the shroud, and it was a devil of a job to get the hook
over the end of the flat spring.


Re-reading the gen, it would appear that the crimping has ended up too flat
such that even
when clipped in, there is no free movement of the wire end. portending a bad
contact if I continue.

(I expected to have to sacrifice the first attempt, but any suggestions,
please?)

Power Pole Connectors
 

"gareth" wrote in message
...
"gareth" wrote in message
...
Decided to Power Pole all the 12V gear here
First sttempt at crimping seems to have failed because the connector would
not
slide easily into the shroud, and it was a devil of a job to get the hook
over the end of the flat spring.
Re-reading the gen, it would appear that the crimping has ended up too
flat such that even
when clipped in, there is no free movement of the wire end. portending a
bad contact if I continue.
(I expected to have to sacrifice the first attempt, but any suggestions,
please?)


Problem solved by resorting to soldering. In any case, the guy who lent me
the
crimpers had been using them for the 100A, or thereabouts, versions for his
5" gauge battery-powered Claas 45 diesel outline, so no wonder that even the
smallest setting on his crimpers wouldn't close properly on a 30A jobbie.

Power Pole Connectors
 

"gareth" wrote in message
...
"gareth" wrote in message
...
"gareth" wrote in message
...
Decided to Power Pole all the 12V gear here
First sttempt at crimping seems to have failed because the connector
would not
slide easily into the shroud, and it was a devil of a job to get the hook
over the end of the flat spring.
Re-reading the gen, it would appear that the crimping has ended up too
flat such that even
when clipped in, there is no free movement of the wire end. portending a
bad contact if I continue.
(I expected to have to sacrifice the first attempt, but any suggestions,
please?)
Problem solved by resorting to soldering. In any case, the guy who lent me
the
crimpers had been using them for the 100A, or thereabouts, versions for
his
5" gauge battery-powered Claas 45 diesel outline, so no wonder that even
the
smallest setting on his crimpers wouldn't close properly on a 30A jobbie.

Now, whereas the G0HWC websire recommends a roll pin to stop the black and
red pair
separating, and others have decried that lest the pin falls out and causes
an electrical short,
as I have a bucketful of 8BA ex-eqpt screws, perhaps the answer might be to
tap that little
hole to take a machine screw.

Power Pole Connectors
 

Brian Reay wrote:
Reynard wrote:
" It is also worth investing in some of the accessories- eg the PVC
'boots' and panel mount holders, plus the pins to 'lock' blocks of
connectors together if you are making your own multi-way connectors. "

The Power Pole manufacturers love you guys ! Used to be you could just
simply hook up a piece of gear to your power supply - not they have ops
buying special tools, connectors, cables, boots and what have you
just to make a connection. What a racket! Turn a free activity into
something that costs you money.



Things like Powerpoles are convenient, give a neat finish, and prevent
silly errors (if used correctly). If you don't think those are worth
investing in, fine, you are free not to.

I don't like them because there appears to be no chassis version and
I like to have a distribution box where everything can be connected,
vs a big tangle of wires with connectors in the middle.

Power Pole Connectors
 

"gareth" wrote in message
...



All is rosy now in the garden,and thanks for suggestions.

Now, all I need is a 1/4" or so plug and socket so that I can quickly attach
the
ground terminal to whichever rig is now powerpoled to the ATU and the PSU.

I'm using the green/yellow 10mm sq stuff used for earthing in Brit, and 'tis
a bit
unwieldy to keep fiddling with the wing nut attachment on the back of each
rig.

Shack is upstairs, front bedroom, earth is ground stake and a fan of
microbore tubing apread out over the front lawn. House earth is a TT
installation so no
probs with PME, etc.

Power Pole Connectors
 

I have been only soldering them for some years. I saw in a recent QST
article that you really must crimp them, but no reason given for why.
I find doing it with solder (a) makes it a lot easier to keep the
"hollow end" of the PowerPole round so that it fits easily in the
plastic cover and (b) also makes them fairly easy to take apart without
damage so that I can reuse the PowerPole.
(I do have a fancy, fairly professional, set of crimping tools, but I
also found the terminals frequently got "squished" out of shape."
Bob Wilson

On 1/18/2016 12:00 PM, gareth wrote:
"gareth" wrote in message
...
"gareth" wrote in message
...
Decided to Power Pole all the 12V gear here
First sttempt at crimping seems to have failed because the connector would
not
slide easily into the shroud, and it was a devil of a job to get the hook
over the end of the flat spring.
Re-reading the gen, it would appear that the crimping has ended up too
flat such that even
when clipped in, there is no free movement of the wire end. portending a
bad contact if I continue.
(I expected to have to sacrifice the first attempt, but any suggestions,
please?)


Problem solved by resorting to soldering. In any case, the guy who lent me
the
crimpers had been using them for the 100A, or thereabouts, versions for his
5" gauge battery-powered Claas 45 diesel outline, so no wonder that even the
smallest setting on his crimpers wouldn't close properly on a 30A jobbie.



I

Power Pole Connectors
 

On 1/18/2016 1:06 PM, Rob wrote:
Brian Reay wrote:
Reynard wrote:
" It is also worth investing in some of the accessories- eg the PVC
'boots' and panel mount holders, plus the pins to 'lock' blocks of
connectors together if you are making your own multi-way connectors. "

The Power Pole manufacturers love you guys ! Used to be you could just
simply hook up a piece of gear to your power supply - not they have ops
buying special tools, connectors, cables, boots and what have you
just to make a connection. What a racket! Turn a free activity into
something that costs you money.



Things like Powerpoles are convenient, give a neat finish, and prevent
silly errors (if used correctly). If you don't think those are worth
investing in, fine, you are free not to.

I don't like them because there appears to be no chassis version and
I like to have a distribution box where everything can be connected,
vs a big tangle of wires with connectors in the middle.

There actually are chassis mount versions, e.g.
http://www.amazon.com/Anderson-1470G.../dp/B00IHOC8QA.
But anywhere I have seen them they have been much more expensive than
the "end of the wire" versions that I keep in stock.
But note that several recent radios (e.g. Yaesu Ft2900r) have their
power connections (typically Molex) on the end of a short pigtail. We
can do likewise, short wires through a grommet or strain relief on the
chassis and PowerPoles on their ends. That does not take care of your
distribution box too well and it is not as pretty even for other uses,
I'd rather have the chassis versions too, but not at their prices!
Bob Wilson

Power Pole Connectors
 

On 18/01/2016 19:06, Rob wrote:
Brian Reay wrote:
Reynard wrote:
" It is also worth investing in some of the accessories- eg the PVC
'boots' and panel mount holders, plus the pins to 'lock' blocks of
connectors together if you are making your own multi-way connectors. "

The Power Pole manufacturers love you guys ! Used to be you could just
simply hook up a piece of gear to your power supply - not they have ops
buying special tools, connectors, cables, boots and what have you
just to make a connection. What a racket! Turn a free activity into
something that costs you money.



Things like Powerpoles are convenient, give a neat finish, and prevent
silly errors (if used correctly). If you don't think those are worth
investing in, fine, you are free not to.

I don't like them because there appears to be no chassis version and
I like to have a distribution box where everything can be connected,
vs a big tangle of wires with connectors in the middle.


http://lmgtfy.com/?q=chassis+mount+powerpole

Power Pole Connectors
 

"Bob Wilson" wrote in message
...
I have been only soldering them for some years. I saw in a recent QST
article that you really must crimp them, but no reason given for why.
I find doing it with solder (a) makes it a lot easier to keep the "hollow
end" of the PowerPole round so that it fits easily in the plastic cover
and (b) also makes them fairly easy to take apart without damage so that I
can reuse the PowerPole.
(I do have a fancy, fairly professional, set of crimping tools, but I also
found the terminals frequently got "squished" out of shape."
Bob Wilson


Crimping works well if the correct type of tool is used. I have an
inexpensive crimper that is made for the power poles and have no problem
with them. Is that set you have made especially for the power poles ?

Stranded wire is recommended to be crimped because if it is soldered it
becomes the equal of a solid wire where the solder wicks up the wire and if
flexed or bent many times it may break. If you don't worry about the wire
breaking then soldering is fine.
Solid wire does not crimp well.

Power Pole Connectors
 

"Rob" wrote in message
...

I don't like them because there appears to be no chassis version and
I like to have a distribution box where everything can be connected,
vs a big tangle of wires with connectors in the middle.

There are ways to to mount them to a chassis, but it seems expensive for the
way they are made.

Power Pole Connectors
 

On 01/18/2016 07:13 PM, gareth wrote:
"gareth" wrote in message
...



All is rosy now in the garden,and thanks for suggestions.

Now, all I need is a 1/4" or so plug and socket so that I can quickly attach
the
ground terminal to whichever rig is now powerpoled to the ATU and the PSU.

I'm using the green/yellow 10mm sq stuff used for earthing in Brit, and 'tis
a bit
unwieldy to keep fiddling with the wing nut attachment on the back of each
rig.

Shack is upstairs, front bedroom, earth is ground stake and a fan of
microbore tubing apread out over the front lawn. House earth is a TT
installation so no
probs with PME, etc.
=========
RF earth for an upstairs shack can be effectively done with an "earth
tuner"
e.g. a series tuned variable C /variable inductor with a RF current
sensor ie wound toroid/
diode /mA meter and potmeter, having say the inductor end connected to a
random length of wire running on the floor in the room (under carpet )
The tuner needs to be adjusted for max RF current (low impedance).
Only disadvantage compared with a straight earth wire into the ground is
the requirement to retune when changing frequency.

The above is often used in apartment buildings where a direct earth wire
is not practical.
I made such a tuner myself for demonstration puposes ,but MFJ make them
(Artificial Ground Model MFJ-931)
See also Practical Wireless Mag , October 1990 ,page 21) for home brewing.

Frank , GM0CSZ / KN6WH

Power Pole Connectors
 

"gareth" wrote in message
...

Now, all I need is a 1/4" or so plug and socket so that I can quickly
attach the
ground terminal to whichever rig is now powerpoled to the ATU and the PSU.

.... and I'm not thinking straight, because the obvious answer is 45 amp
GREEN powerpoles !!!


Doh!

Power Pole Connectors
 

"Brian Reay" wrote in message
...
There are at least two types. One is simply a couple of E shaped metal
plates. The centre of the E goes into the small hole, the connector body
fits in the gaps. You can stack connectors and put one plate at each end.

This type are very cheap.


I don't think I have seen that kind, or if I did only one set of the PPs
were installed that way.

I would like for someone to come out with about 8 or 10 sets on a plate for
cheap price, not the $ 50 or more for them that I have seen.
Years ago I made up a plate to go on the back of my radio desk which
resembles a computer desk that has several sets of bannana jacks on it that
works ok, but have to just use wires or the spade lugs on it.

Power Pole Connectors
 

"Brian Reay" wrote in message
...

I normally solder but place a cable tie near the connector, where the
wires
part, and under the boot. This helps prevent the last section of wire
before the connector being flexed (you can see it if you try the idea),
which is the area where, as you say, the wire may break due to the wicked
solder.

Do you mean putting the cable tie in longitudinally to stiffen the wires, or
to rgip the wires to the shroud?

Power Pole Connectors
 

"gareth" wrote:

I'm not thinking straight


Story of your life, OM.

--
STC // M0TEY // twitter.com/ukradioamateur

Power Pole Connectors
 

gareth wrote:

hereas the G0HWC websire recommends a roll pin to stop the black and
red pair separating, and others have decried that lest the pin falls
out and causes an electrical short

So why not buy the Red+black housings that have been ultrasonically
welded together in the factory?

Power Pole Connectors
 

In article "Ralph Mowery" writes:

"Bob Wilson" wrote in message
...
I have been only soldering them for some years. I saw in a recent QST
article that you really must crimp them, but no reason given for why.
I find doing it with solder (a) makes it a lot easier to keep the "hollow
end" of the PowerPole round so that it fits easily in the plastic cover
and (b) also makes them fairly easy to take apart without damage so that I
can reuse the PowerPole.
(I do have a fancy, fairly professional, set of crimping tools, but I also
found the terminals frequently got "squished" out of shape."
Bob Wilson


Crimping works well if the correct type of tool is used. I have an
inexpensive crimper that is made for the power poles and have no problem
with them. Is that set you have made especially for the power poles ?

Stranded wire is recommended to be crimped because if it is soldered it
becomes the equal of a solid wire where the solder wicks up the wire and if
flexed or bent many times it may break. If you don't worry about the wire
breaking then soldering is fine.
Solid wire does not crimp well.

Not only does solder wick up the stranded wire and make it non-flexible and
prone to breakage, it also causes it to torque the actual connector inside
the housing to make poorer connections if the cable has side force or twist
on it.

Also, there is the very high risk of wicking solder up on the active sliding
contact, covering the silver contact with a tin/lead one, reducing the contact
quality.

The crimp tool is faster, allows getting the ends on straight (so they are
not torqued in the housing), and does a better job.

Alan