"Fred McKenzie" wrote in message
...
In general, the concept of the cigarette lighter plug is not a bad
idea,
PROVIDED that the wiring from the device requiring power and the wiring to
the socket itself is more than adequate. For 12v related applications, it
is too bad that this is not utlized more. Again, for those who want to
read differently into this, I am saying the concept is a good idea, but
current manufacture of such sockets are less than to be desired.

Ryan-

I agree and disagree. I think it IS a bad idea. As you say, current
manufacture of such sockets is such that it makes a poor connector for the
currents involved.


And read the last line of the quote of me..... The CONCEPT is good, but
current manufacturing of them is less that to be desired. Looking a select
design faults of such sockets, wiring etc, and "vamping up" those would
create a nice way to get power.


While you may install sockets to meet your specifications, those installed
by
auto manufacturers often are limited by a ten ampere fuse, which means
they
were designed for a five ampere load. Many lighter plugs available on the
market, may be adequate for five amperes, but not much more. I recall
melting
insulation on the wire to a lighter plug on a car I used to have, and the
fuse
never blew. The rig I was using only ran 25 watts output, but it had a
problem!

And thats why I wouldn't run more that it is rated for, for the factory
ones. Running low current draw devices is not a problem with those factory
designed ones, unless they are specifically designed to run a higher draw.


I agree with the suggestion of Dick - W6CCD. I don't know if the Andersen
Power Pole connectors are a perfect solution, but they are the best, most
readily available mobile power connector I've come across. To test them
out, I
recently switched over to West Mountain Radio's smaller "Rig Runner"
outlet box
for mobile operation. They certainly are capable of greater current than
a
common lighter plug and socket combination. Of course you can bypass the
Rig
Runner if you only have one radio to connect. The genderless feature is
one of
the things I like about the Power Poles.


I haven't seen those but will search later on and see. I have seeen some
type of connector device, but it looked like one of those strips used in
larger phone network interfaces, or at least something like it. If this
powerpole thingy is anything close to that.... I do not want it.



--
Ryan, KC8PMX
FF1-FF2-MFR-(pending NREMT-B!)
--. --- -.. ... .- -. --. . .-.. ... .- .-. . ..-. .. .-. . ..-.
... --. .... - . .-. ...



After using the Power Poles for a few months, the only drawbacks I've
found are
a difficulty in crimping ten guage wire, and the "roll pins" that some
recommend to keep the connector pair from sliding apart, keep falling out.
Per
West Mountain's suggestion, I'm now using Super Glue to keep them from
sliding
apart, but I'm still looking for a good hand-operated open-terminal crimp
tool
for the ten guage connectors.

73, Fred, K4DII