POWER POLES -- HELP -- OH PLEASE HELP EDUCATE THE OLD MAN -- Hi-HI

[K1CD]

If all you're going to do is to wire things up once, then there is little drawback to hardwiring everything.

If you have a few accessories that need 12v, like to be able to plug in some gadget to your power supply on occasion, want to be prepared for emergencies and have your ham station as a part of your bug out bag, or just have some flexibility in power management, then having a power connector standard can make things a lot easier and less error prone.

There is a reason (many of the really) why RACES and ARES have standardized on these power connections. Do a bit of an I'net search on this and you should be able to find out why. Then you can have an informed opinion upon which to base your own decisions.

[WD5JOY]

Thanks JOHN ............ "Unisex" .......... as in wired from one end the connector accepts the opposite end of a second plug I prsume. Turn one way connect the wire .... turn the other way on plug two and connect the wire ...... then 'plug 'em together" is what I get from reading and looking at the Power Pole plug. Put another way ..... two plugs made the same ..... wired on opposite ends and then plugged together ..... yes? It looks like the cable assembly with the "3/8" eyes" on one end and the "Power Pole" on the other should work by connecting to my existing "Kenwood Power Cable" that has the :Power Poles" on one end.

Cutting the wire and going directly to the binding posts was my first thought ..... but since the "Power Poles" are there I figured I would try and use 'em if possible. I'm OK with "new stuff" and standardizing for other equipment could be a plus ..... OR a gigantic pain in the patootie for ME ...... an old school ham who just wants the rig on the air. I jury-rigged the "Power Poles" to a length of #8 wire and a couple copper flat pieces that fit quite tightly and work well. The power supply is up to snuff as far as available amperage so I am good-to-go for now. I'll see about getting another cable with "Power Poles" installed on one end and slap the cut end to the binding posts IF my understanding of these little guys is correct. If not ---- chop-chop and add 3/8" lugs and connect to power supply and be done with it; the setup will last more years than I have left!

IT "looks like" this guys should work .......... if not ....... I'll have blown $14.00!


"6 ft. 10 gauge Power Supply Cable with 45 amp Powerpoles"

"Power Supply Cable - 6 feet of 10 gauge Red/Black Zip Cord mounted with 45 amp Powerpole connectors on one end and 3/8 or 1/4 inch Gold Plated ring terminals on the other. Ideal for connecting a Power Supply or Battery to a RIGrunner."

THANKS GUYS!

"Old Don"

There is no male or female -- they are unisex. They are polarized by locking them together with a build in tongue and groove arrangement. For the ham stuff, the amperage rating deals with the size of wire they are designed for. The connector shells and the actual contacts are the same size -- only the size of the part the wire crimps into is different. Perhaps someone local can make you a pigtail with Powerpoles on one end.

[WD5JOY]

OK gents ........ more confusion ....... do the "Power Pole PLUGS" need to plug in to an accessory like this or one of the gazillion they offer in order to work?? It seems as if the cost continually escalates when switching to the new-fangled "plugs" and is not worth it to "old ME"! OR .......... is it?

[KF5FEI]

If you need to connect more than one thing to a single Powerpole cable coming from your power supply or battery, the splitters are nice. However, you don't need it to connect one device to one power source.

FYI, when you get your cable, before you hook it to the power supply and connect the radio, make sure the person who put the end on the radio got them polarized correctly. The cable should plug together red-to-red and black-to-black.

[WD0MYM]

I use Powerpoles on everything. I do move equipment between home/mobile/portable, etc. That is why I use them (with the proper crimper also). Having said that, as K1CD said, if your going to hook a rig up to a power supply at home and leave it there for years I would not bother with them. If you get the West Mountain crimper and all the Powerpole parts, it is an expense.

I prefer the West Mountain Rigrunner to the Red-Dee connect type units (I have a couple in that style). The West Mountain has fuses. They are $$, but I own just one for home use.

http://www.westmountainradio.com/pro..._id=rr_4005h_c

Jon

[K8JD]

I would clip the stupid powerpoles off and connect the bare trimmed ends of the cable to the binding posts ! The way i connect to binding posts is the same for 50 years i have been a ham !

[WD5JOY]

QUOTE OF WD0MYM: "Having said that, as K1CD said, if your going to hook a rig up to a power supply at home and leave it there for years I would not bother with them."

QUOTE OF KJ8D: "I would clip the stupid powerpoles off and connect the bare trimmed ends of the cable to the binding posts ! The way i connect to binding posts is the same for 50 years i have been a ham!"

All things considered - especially 'cost' and having done quite well with binding posts and the like for a half-century - I am going the 'old school' way and removing the 'Power Poopers' and going the way that has worked well for me in the past. Hey, IF I ever need to haul the rig to participate in an 'Emergency Play Day' - SOMEONE will have a danged power supply I can hook the radio to -- no matter the connection.

If I were to hook up ONE piece of equipment with 'Power Poopers' - it would only be prudent to hook up ALL accessories with these new-fangled accessories. The COST would be out of sight unless I soldered instead of crimping with the fancy-doodad tool (even the less expensive $15.00 job) - by my standards anyway - and it isn't worth the benefit to me. I have a junction box with eight sets of binding posts - four each connected to separate 35 amp power supplies and they have done well with various rigs for decades -- I'll bet they go on for more time than I have left! No need to change socks over the 'Power Pooper' installed on my newly acquired rig.

THANK YOU ALL for the education on these 'Power Poopers' as this was the first time I saw one and my unfamiliarity provided an opportunity to be educated on the "how and why" they work. I understand 'now' and should I ever decide to change over -- I'll danged well know what to purchase! That's due to all you guys and gal-ettes! I'm a pain in the patootie ..... but I'm an appreciative 'pain' I guarantee! OLD ..... but appreciative!

[AE5JU]

Everything you need to know about Powerpoles is here: http://k9zw.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/

[WA9SVD]

Um, I'd cut off the power pole connectors, strip the wires, and attach the wires to the power supply binding posts...and would have made some contacts already.

I Agree with Steve wholeheartedly, with ONE, BIG exception! If you decide to cut off the PowerPoles, leave at least several inches before cutting them off! THAT way, you may have a desire or need to use them later, spliced into the wiring for other equipment. If you cit off the wires right at the Power Pole connector, you have merely created electronic waste.

[KC9UDX]

If you decide to cut off the PowerPoles, leave at least several inches before cutting them off!

That way you can strip the wires and attach them to binding posts, and will be fully prepared to plug in the next radio that comes with powerpoles.