Re: Anderson Powerpoll connector

[n7ws]

Although I soldered the Powerpole connectors for my K3 because I didn't have the appropriate crimping tool, I submit that in general, crimped connections are far more reliable than soldered ones.

Try and find a soldered connector pin in an automobile, aircraft or missile.  Likewise, swaged (a related process) connections abound in the same applications; hydraulic, A/C and fuel hoses, control cables, etc.

As long ago as the 1960s we were crimping the several sections of the TOW missile fuselage together using Magneforming.

That said, every time I move my K3 on the desk it disconnects itself.  My TS-870 with a Molex connector doesn't.

Wes  N7WS

--- On Thu, 3/24/11, Vic K2VCO <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I solder them too. What I do is push
> the wire up to the top of the contact, heat the
> little tube, and apply solder to the very top, the part
> closest to the contact surface.
>
> I'm careful to only use a minimum amount of solder. Because
> I've heated the tube, the
> solder flows into it, not onto the contact surface.
>
> This helps avoid the problem of the solder wicking back
> into the strands of the wire,
> making a stiff section right at the connector which can
> break. I too have never had any
> problems with these connectors.
>
> I solder all kinds of things. It makes me feel secure.
> Crimps make me nervous.
>
> On 3/24/2011 2:55 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
> > At the risk of re-energizing an old debate, I have
> *never* crimped a
> > PowerPole connector and have *never* had a problem.
> All of mine are soldered
> > just as Elecraft recommends if you don't have the
> correct crimp tool.
> >
> > In the APP Power Supply Cable Kit instruction sheet is
> a detailed cut-away
> > drawing of how the APP connector contacts insert into
> the shell and lock for
> > solid, reliable contact.
> >
> > Ron AC7AC
>
> --
> Vic, K2VCO
> Fresno CA
> http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
> __________________________________________

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[george fritkin]

I solder crimp connections especially RF.  My only question is what harm can it do?  In production is saves lots of time, but how many crimp connections does a typical ham do in a year?  At 82 feet up on a tower I rather be safe than "climb"
George, W6GF



--- On Fri, 3/25/11, Jeff Herr <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: Jeff Herr <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Anderson Powerpole connector
To: [hidden email]
Date: Friday, March 25, 2011, 8:10 AM

If those connectors were no good I would have to ask why every electric fork
lift on the planet uses that connector design?

How long would a connector last at your voltage drops while operating at 48
volts @ 200 amps?  Can you imagine the heat dissipation?

Crimp the connector as specified!

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[George Thornton]

I am not an electronics expert, but I work closely with someone who spent 40 years installing custom electronic equipment in commercial and military aircraft.  

Approaching PowerPoles from the perspective of a novice, it has been my experience that PowerPoles take some learning to properly assemble.  There are times when I thought I had it but I actually did not.  However, once I finally learned how to do it, everything works just fine with no heating and no significant voltage drop.  The connector has to snap in place into the housing, if it does not something is wrong.  Usually either the contact is upside down or the crimp or soldered connector became deformed.

The main advantage of a PowerPole is that it can be reconnected for all practical purposes an unlimited number of times without degrading the contact. Further, the contacts are well protected greatly reducing the chance of an unintended short. These features plus the fact that PowerPole connections are standardized and modular make them popular in EmComm and other field work, where equipment must be frequently assembled and disassembled in the field.  Life in the field is a great deal safer and simpler if everyone is using PowerPoles.  If you need to move your rig into someone else's vehicle, all you have to do is plug your equipment with PowerPole connectors into their PowerPole system.

I have been taught that properly applied crimp connections are better and more reliable than solder connections.  My electronics expert agrees with this position.

My expert friend objects to PowerPole connectors because they have no positive lock and could easily become disconnected.  That would certainly be a huge issue in aircraft electronics.

I don't have such critical uses so I don't worry about an inadvertent disconnect.  

For anything serious, the PowerPole connection can be secured either with zip ties or some plastic locking inserts they supply.

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of george fritkin
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 9:39 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Anderson Powerpole connector

I solder crimp connections especially RF.  My only question is what harm can it do?  In production is saves lots of time, but how many crimp connections does a typical ham do in a year?  At 82 feet up on a tower I rather be safe than "climb"
George, W6GF



--- On Fri, 3/25/11, Jeff Herr <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: Jeff Herr <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Anderson Powerpole connector
To: [hidden email]
Date: Friday, March 25, 2011, 8:10 AM

If those connectors were no good I would have to ask why every electric fork
lift on the planet uses that connector design?

How long would a connector last at your voltage drops while operating at 48
volts @ 200 amps?  Can you imagine the heat dissipation?

Crimp the connector as specified!

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[Bob K6UJ]

The only problem I have had with the Anderson Powerpoles is from my installing the connectors.
I will lose the 12 volts to a piece of gear and it always boils down to the same thing.  The leaf
didn't snap over the mating piece inside the connector.  Looking in at the end of the connector I can
see that it didn't slide down completely.  If I can't snap it all the way in with my fingers I
place the connector vertically on the bench and insert a small flat blade screwdriver and push down
on the edge of the leaf until it snaps.  Now I always check the connector after assembly to make sure
it has snapped in properly.  

Bob
K6UJ


 
On Mar 25, 2011, at 10:02 AM, George A. Thornton wrote:

> I am not an electronics expert, but I work closely with someone who spent 40 years installing custom electronic equipment in commercial and military aircraft.  
>
> Approaching PowerPoles from the perspective of a novice, it has been my experience that PowerPoles take some learning to properly assemble.  There are times when I thought I had it but I actually did not.  However, once I finally learned how to do it, everything works just fine with no heating and no significant voltage drop.  The connector has to snap in place into the housing, if it does not something is wrong.  Usually either the contact is upside down or the crimp or soldered connector became deformed.
>
> The main advantage of a PowerPole is that it can be reconnected for all practical purposes an unlimited number of times without degrading the contact. Further, the contacts are well protected greatly reducing the chance of an unintended short. These features plus the fact that PowerPole connections are standardized and modular make them popular in EmComm and other field work, where equipment must be frequently assembled and disassembled in the field.  Life in the field is a great deal safer and simpler if everyone is using PowerPoles.  If you need to move your rig into someone else's vehicle, all you have to do is plug your equipment with PowerPole connectors into their PowerPole system.
>
> I have been taught that properly applied crimp connections are better and more reliable than solder connections.  My electronics expert agrees with this position.
>
> My expert friend objects to PowerPole connectors because they have no positive lock and could easily become disconnected.  That would certainly be a huge issue in aircraft electronics.
>
> I don't have such critical uses so I don't worry about an inadvertent disconnect.  
>
> For anything serious, the PowerPole connection can be secured either with zip ties or some plastic locking inserts they supply.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of george fritkin
> Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 9:39 AM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Anderson Powerpole connector
>
> I solder crimp connections especially RF.  My only question is what harm can it do?  In production is saves lots of time, but how many crimp connections does a typical ham do in a year?  At 82 feet up on a tower I rather be safe than "climb"
> George, W6GF
>
>
>
> --- On Fri, 3/25/11, Jeff Herr <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> From: Jeff Herr <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Anderson Powerpole connector
> To: [hidden email]
> Date: Friday, March 25, 2011, 8:10 AM
>
> If those connectors were no good I would have to ask why every electric fork
> lift on the planet uses that connector design?
>
> How long would a connector last at your voltage drops while operating at 48
> volts @ 200 amps?  Can you imagine the heat dissipation?
>
> Crimp the connector as specified!
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
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>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
>
>
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>
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[Scott Ellington]

If you use the 45A contacts and AWG 10 wire, you either have to use the proper crimp tool or solder very carefully.  The barrel of these contacts just barely fits in the shell, and won't if it's either distorted or has solder on the outside.  If you don't have the crimp tool, just solder carefully and, if necessary, file off the excess.  If you try to crimp it with the wrong tool, it will never fit.  The smaller contacts aren't such a problem, but they won't work with AWG 10.

Aside from the extra time it takes, the only down side I can see to soldering is that the solder wicks up the wire a ways and makes it brittle, so you need to make sure the wire doesn't flex a lot near the connector.  

73,

Scott  K9MA

Scott Ellington
Madison, Wisconsin
USA


On Mar 25, 2011, at 12:02 PM, George A. Thornton wrote:

> I am not an electronics expert, but I work closely with someone who spent 40 years installing custom electronic equipment in commercial and military aircraft.  
>
> Approaching PowerPoles from the perspective of a novice, it has been my experience that PowerPoles take some learning to properly assemble.  There are times when I thought I had it but I actually did not.  However, once I finally learned how to do it, everything works just fine with no heating and no significant voltage drop.  The connector has to snap in place into the housing, if it does not something is wrong.  Usually either the contact is upside down or the crimp or soldered connector became deformed.
>
> The main advantage of a PowerPole is that it can be reconnected for all practical purposes an unlimited number of times without degrading the contact. Further, the contacts are well protected greatly reducing the chance of an unintended short. These features plus the fact that PowerPole connections are standardized and modular make them popular in EmComm and other field work, where equipment must be frequently assembled and disassembled in the field.  Life in the field is a great deal safer and simpler if everyone is using PowerPoles.  If you need to move your rig into someone else's vehicle, all you have to do is plug your equipment with PowerPole connectors into their PowerPole system.
>
> I have been taught that properly applied crimp connections are better and more reliable than solder connections.  My electronics expert agrees with this position.
>
> My expert friend objects to PowerPole connectors because they have no positive lock and could easily become disconnected.  That would certainly be a huge issue in aircraft electronics.
>
> I don't have such critical uses so I don't worry about an inadvertent disconnect.  
>
> For anything serious, the PowerPole connection can be secured either with zip ties or some plastic locking inserts they supply.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of george fritkin
> Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 9:39 AM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Anderson Powerpole connector
>
> I solder crimp connections especially RF.  My only question is what harm can it do?  In production is saves lots of time, but how many crimp connections does a typical ham do in a year?  At 82 feet up on a tower I rather be safe than "climb"
> George, W6GF
>
>
>
> --- On Fri, 3/25/11, Jeff Herr <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> From: Jeff Herr <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Anderson Powerpole connector
> To: [hidden email]
> Date: Friday, March 25, 2011, 8:10 AM
>
> If those connectors were no good I would have to ask why every electric fork
> lift on the planet uses that connector design?
>
> How long would a connector last at your voltage drops while operating at 48
> volts @ 200 amps?  Can you imagine the heat dissipation?
>
> Crimp the connector as specified!
>
> _

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[wayne burdick]

We've had excellent results with APP connectors in our products,  
soldered or crimped, and we will not be switching to anything  
different or changing our instructions.

I wish I could say the same for *other* power connectors we've tried  
in the past.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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[Bill K9YEQ]

The good thing about this problem... 0 amps at 0 voltage drop :-).  

Bill
K9YEQ
K9YEQ
K2 and KX1 field tester, K3, P3, K1 and modules

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Robert Harmon
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 12:45 PM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Anderson Powerpole connector

The only problem I have had with the Anderson Powerpoles is from my
installing the connectors.
I will lose the 12 volts to a piece of gear and it always boils down to the
same thing.  The leaf didn't snap over the mating piece inside the
connector.  Looking in at the end of the connector I can see that it didn't
slide down completely.  If I can't snap it all the way in with my fingers I
place the connector vertically on the bench and insert a small flat blade
screwdriver and push down on the edge of the leaf until it snaps.  Now I
always check the connector after assembly to make sure it has snapped in
properly.  

Bob
K6UJ


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[Jim Brown-10]

On 3/25/2011 10:46 AM, Scott Ellington wrote:
> If you use the 45A contacts and AWG 10 wire, you either have to use the proper crimp tool or solder very carefully.

Yes, the 45A contacts for the small series of Power Poles that we use
are a real challenge to get right. I've built a lot of patch cables
using them, most of them accompanied by cursing. But I like these
connectors a lot. Agreed that they don't lock, but this isn't a problem
in most ham installations.

73,


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[AC7AC]

CONTENTS DELETED

The author has deleted this message.

[Nate Bargmann]

* On 2011 25 Mar 08:50 -0500, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>   The most common reason for crimping instead of soldering is that the
> solder will wick up the wire a little ways, and if the wire is subject
> to being flexed, it will break right where the solder flow has ended.
>
> I don't believe the typical K3 power cord is going to be constantly
> flexed, so in this case soldering is just as good as crimping.  For
> situations where vibration or movement of the cable is likely (mobile
> installation for example), then crimping would be the method of choice.

Exactly.  My installations of crimp connectors have been mainly in
mobile environments (specifically RF Industries PL-259 connectors for
RG-58 cable) and to date after several years, not one failure in railroad
trucks and on track equipment, an environment which is not known for
being gentle on anything.

73, de Nate N0NB >>

--

"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all
possible worlds.  The pessimist fears this is true."

Ham radio, Linux, bikes, and more: http://www.n0nb.us
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[Ken G Kopp]

They've work well for me ... never a problem.  I have
a RIGrunner 4008H fused distribution box from West
Mountain Radio that makes my 12 VDC distribution
"neat n tidy".

73! Ken Kopp - K0PP
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[Doug Faunt N6TQS [phone]]

I like the APP for the main power connector on the K3, but having the
12VDC OUT and the PTT IN connector the same seems a Murphy-proofing
fail.  The fuse is very likely to fail before the device that's supposed
to drive PTT IN, but ....

Where is that fuse, anyway?

73, doug




On 25-Mar-11 10:50, Wayne Burdick wrote:

> We've had excellent results with APP connectors in our products,
> soldered or crimped, and we will not be switching to anything
> different or changing our instructions.
>
> I wish I could say the same for *other* power connectors we've tried
> in the past.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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>

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[Roy Morris-6]

I have been using APPs for ten years when I built my first K2.  I have used APP connectors on two K2s and two K3s.  All cables to APP connectors have been soldered in.  I have never had a problem.  If the cables are soldered correctly to each insert; and the inserts are "snapped in" to the red and black housings, these connections should make good contact and last a lifetime.  Roy Morris  W4WFB
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