Power Cable Challenged People

I spent the evening working on a new power cable for my K2/100-KAT100 combo.  It looks like crap, but it seems to work.  This does not look professional at all and I an wonder what other people do to make this look like a 2-year old didn't put it together.
 
The upshot of all this (don't you like words like "upshot?") was that I got a new Astron Switching Power Supply at Daytong for a goooood price.  Well, the connectors on the back are not binding posts so my old cables would not work without cutting off the ends.  The new PS just uses a straight wire pushed in a hole and then a set screw tightens down from the end.
 
So, getting ready for FD, I started making me a new power cable with Anderson Power connectors...if which I combined 12 gauge and 18 gauge wire coming out of Anderson connector for the KAT100.  I put in an inline 20 amp fuse holder for the K2/100 and a smaller fuse holder for the KAt100.  Just trying to make it easier to use in the field.  The 12 gauge is feeding the K2/100 - but then I have some #18 wire tied to the connector going to the KAT-100 with a fuse in line also.  I think I've just repeated myself.  Ok?  Clear?
 
Well, to make a long story even longer....it all came out looking like crap.  I works!  But, it looks like a 2-year old did the work and I don't thing the 2-year old was human.
 
Anyone have some words of wisdom and how to make a better mouse trap...uh power cable?
 
Lee - K0WA
 


Common sense is in short supply - get some and use it.
If you can't find any common sense, ask for help from
somebody that has some common sense. - Lee Buller
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[Don Wilhelm-3]

Lee,

If the power cable and its connectors all display adequately low resistance
for the current that flows through them, what does the appearance matter -
one person's opinion of 'art' may look like 'crap' to another.

In the K2/100 - KAT100 area, there are several alternatives.  One is to
string both cables to the power supply terminals and enjoy the result.
Secondly, if one is using APP connectors, a 'Y' connector can be wired - for
temporary use, I would make up a 'Y' with short leads and 3 APP connectors -
it can then be located at either the power supply end or near the KPA100
connector, whichever is more convenient at the time.  At the power supply
end, there is the choice of attaching a lead with the APP connector on one
end and stripped leads to fit the power supply output terminals at the other
end, or a long lead with an APP at the far end - the 'Y'can be placed at
either end (power supply or KPA100 end).  Of course, there is always the
'RigRunner' solution - one cable to the power supply to the RigRunner and a
cable to each accessory (with the proper fuse for each installed in the
RigRunner panel).

Sorry for the longish answer, but there are any number of ways to make
connections of that sort - what is beauty is in the eye of the beholder
(assuming that it provides proper fuction electrically).

73,
Don W3FPR

> -----Original Message-----
>
> I spent the evening working on a new power cable for my
> K2/100-KAT100 combo.  It looks like crap, but it seems to work.
> This does not look professional at all and I an wonder what other
> people do to make this look like a 2-year old didn't put it together.
>
> The upshot of all this (don't you like words like "upshot?") was
> that I got a new Astron Switching Power Supply at Daytong for a
> goooood price.  Well, the connectors on the back are not binding
> posts so my old cables would not work without cutting off the
> ends.  The new PS just uses a straight wire pushed in a hole and
> then a set screw tightens down from the end.
>
> So, getting ready for FD, I started making me a new power cable
> with Anderson Power connectors...if which I combined 12 gauge and
> 18 gauge wire coming out of Anderson connector for the KAT100.  I
> put in an inline 20 amp fuse holder for the K2/100 and a smaller
> fuse holder for the KAt100.  Just trying to make it easier to use
> in the field.  The 12 gauge is feeding the K2/100 - but then I
> have some #18 wire tied to the connector going to the KAT-100
> with a fuse in line also.  I think I've just repeated myself.  Ok?  Clear?
>
> Well, to make a long story even longer....it all came out looking
> like crap.  I works!  But, it looks like a 2-year old did the
> work and I don't thing the 2-year old was human.
>
> Anyone have some words of wisdom and how to make a better mouse
> trap...uh power cable?
>
>

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