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#1
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![]() It's not been an issue for me until this Christmas when my wife decided to get me a VHF/UHF mobile rig. I've been using an older Icom 2 meter rig in both the cars for years so both cars have Icom power cables in place, but the new rig doesn't use the same power connectors. I'd like to settle on a common power connector for both the radios, but I'm not all that sure where to go to find something that is reasonably priced and is not going to disappear in the future and force me to go out and buy all new connectors again. I figured I'd not remove any of the existing connectors on the radios, but build up short jumpers that adapt to the connector of choice. I also figured that I'd use the existing power wires by replacing the current Icom power connector with what ever I pick. Any suggestions on what to use and where to get them? -= bob =- |
#2
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"KC4UAI" wrote ...
It's not been an issue for me until this Christmas when my wife decided to get me a VHF/UHF mobile rig. I've been using an older Icom 2 meter rig in both the cars for years so both cars have Icom power cables in place, but the new rig doesn't use the same power connectors. I'd like to settle on a common power connector for both the radios, but I'm not all that sure where to go to find something that is reasonably priced and is not going to disappear in the future and force me to go out and buy all new connectors again. I figured I'd not remove any of the existing connectors on the radios, but build up short jumpers that adapt to the connector of choice. I also figured that I'd use the existing power wires by replacing the current Icom power connector with what ever I pick. Any suggestions on what to use and where to get them? Many groups seem to have standardized on power connectors for interchangability reasons during events (including real disasters, etc.) For example, in my area the PowerPole connectors from Amp are the standard. I buy my supplies from my specialty dealer (who is a ham)... http://www.dcpwr.com/ But the connectors and accessories are available from many places. KE7GKP |
#3
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In article
, KC4UAI wrote: It's not been an issue for me until this Christmas when my wife decided to get me a VHF/UHF mobile rig. I've been using an older Icom 2 meter rig in both the cars for years so both cars have Icom power cables in place, but the new rig doesn't use the same power connectors. I'd like to settle on a common power connector for both the radios, but I'm not all that sure where to go to find something that is reasonably priced and is not going to disappear in the future and force me to go out and buy all new connectors again. I figured I'd not remove any of the existing connectors on the radios, but build up short jumpers that adapt to the connector of choice. I also figured that I'd use the existing power wires by replacing the current Icom power connector with what ever I pick. Any suggestions on what to use and where to get them? -= bob =- What I did years ago was build a Conversion Cable using the Propritay Power Plug of each rig and a common AMphenol Power Connector, with say 3 inches of wire in between. The Amp Connectors can be had from DigiKey, Mouser, even Jameco, or your local Electronic Components Supply House, and you just buy a dozen extra for stock, and your set for life..... Bruce in alaska -- add path before @ |
#4
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![]() "KC4UAI" wrote in message : : It's not been an issue for me until this Christmas when : : my wife decided to get me a VHF/UHF mobile rig. I've : : been using an older Icom 2 meter rig in both the cars : : for years so both cars have Icom power cables in place, : : but the new rig doesn't use the same power connectors. : : : : I'd like to settle on a common power connector for both : : the radios, but I'm not all that sure where to go to : : find something that is reasonably priced and is not : : going to disappear in the future and force me to go out : : and buy all new connectors again. : : : : I figured I'd not remove any of the existing connectors : : on the radios, but build up short jumpers that adapt to : : the connector of choice. I also figured that I'd use : : the existing power wires by replacing the current Icom : : power connector with what ever I pick. : : : : Any suggestions on what to use and where to get them? : : : : -= bob =- I use "bullet" connectors, common in the UK for making up power leads, not sure if you have them in the US..? Here's a link to a UK supplier, you can see there what they are, obviously you would use them in a polarised fashion, with the female connector on the "live" feed from the battery. These are the female ones: http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?...2724&doy=18m12 Male: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...e=14&doy=18m12 Hope this helps, note to whoever moderates this, I know it's a commercial site but it's intended purely as a means of showing the type of connector I mean :-) 73 Ivor G6URP |
#5
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![]() "KC4UAI" wrote in message ... I'd like to settle on a common power connector for both the radios, but I'm not all that sure where to go to find something that is reasonably priced and is not going to disappear in the future and force me to go out and buy all new connectors again. Icom VHF radios now all use the same T connector, and I believe almost all other major manufacturers have moved to that connector for VHF/UHF radios. Different connector for HF, tho. As KE7GKP points out, a *LOT* of groups are moving to Anderson Power Pole connectors as a common connector, and this is pretty convenient around the shack, too. Simply make a pigtail for each rig with an APP connector, and now anything can connect anywhere, and odds are your local club or ARES group will have a similar convention. One of the issues has been that lower cost/smaller connectors could not handle the current required for HF radios. While they APPs are available for different current levels, they can interconnect. So you can put a 45 amp connector on your power supply and plug in a radio with a 15 amp connector. ... |
#6
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On Dec 18, 1:10 pm, "xpyttl" wrote:
Icom VHF radios now all use the same T connector, and I believe almost all other major manufacturers have moved to that connector for VHF/UHF radios. Different connector for HF, tho. As KE7GKP points out, a *LOT* of groups are moving to Anderson Power Pole connectors as a common connector, and this is pretty convenient around the shack, too. Simply make a pigtail for each rig with an APP connector, and now anything can connect anywhere, and odds are your local club or ARES group will have a similar convention. Well, after some investigation online, it seems that the Power Pole solution is likely the most flexible for my purposes. The ARES group I'm in doesn't specifically specify a configuration, but many of the other groups in the area do specify the Power Pole. I also decided to continue this standard into my shack so I can move the various radios between various locations and not have to worry about coming up with power connections all the time. There are also some very nice distribution panels available from various manufacturers that use this standard. I also found a distributer that also has some clips that hold the connectors together in high vibration environments (like my cars) and they also had some dust covers to hopefully keep the dust and kids' fingers out when no radio is installed. I do wish that Anderson would put out a 2 conductor version of their "power pack" products. It would be nice if you could build these with built in clips and only have the size of 2 conductors instead of their minimum 4, but I guess there may not be a huge market for that. Well if they do come out with them in the future, it should be easy to retrofit if I want. Thanks for the help.. -= bob =- |
#7
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On Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:09:13 -0500, KC4UAI wrote:
It's not been an issue for me until this Christmas when my wife decided to get me a VHF/UHF mobile rig. I've been using an older Icom 2 meter rig in both the cars for years so both cars have Icom power cables in place, but the new rig doesn't use the same power connectors. I'd like to settle on a common power connector for both the radios, but I'm not all that sure where to go to find something that is reasonably priced and is not going to disappear in the future and force me to go out and buy all new connectors again. I figured I'd not remove any of the existing connectors on the radios, but build up short jumpers that adapt to the connector of choice. I also figured that I'd use the existing power wires by replacing the current Icom power connector with what ever I pick. Any suggestions on what to use and where to get them? If you decide to go with the Anderson Power Pole connectors, Powerwerx has a good selection. I would also consider buying the West Mountain Radio crimper as I have found it makes an excellent crimp that slips easily into the plastic shell. I tried the cheaper G&B crimper and had trouble making a consistent crimp that snapped into the shell easily. APPs have an approximately 5 lbs seperation force rating, so you'll want to avoid much tension on the connector in your installation. I have them in my mobile installations without issue. 73, de Nate -- "The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds, the pessimist fears this is true." |
#8
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"xpyttl" wrote
Icom VHF radios now all use the same T connector, and I believe almost all other major manufacturers have moved to that connector for VHF/UHF radios. Not to intentionally hijack the thread, but... ;-) Where can I buy those T-connectors? I've looked in Allied and Newark catalogs and can't find them. In order to make jumpers or quick-disconnects, for example, I need to have a T-connector for my Yaesu mobiles (FT-1500 and FT-7800R) to attach to the radio's existing cable. I'm not going to cut off the existing cable. Howard N7SO |
#9
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"Howard Lester" wrote
Where can I buy those T-connectors? Hey, look what I found! http://www.powerwerx.com/category.asp?CtgID=1003 What it took was knowing to add the term "T-connector" to my search. One thing led to another.... |
#10
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In article ,
Howard Lester wrote: Not to intentionally hijack the thread, but... ;-) Where can I buy those T-connectors? I've looked in Allied and Newark catalogs and can't find them. In order to make jumpers or quick-disconnects, for example, I need to have a T-connector for my Yaesu mobiles (FT-1500 and FT-7800R) to attach to the radio's existing cable. I'm not going to cut off the existing cable. One source is http://www.powerwerx.com They'll sell you the OEM "T" connectors with inserts ($1.95 per), or a pre-made OEM-T-to-PowerPole adapter cable ($10 for a one-footer), or a "universal both sides adapter" (one male T, one female T, two sets of PowerPoles) for $15. They also have the IC-7000 power connectors, FT-100 connectors, 6-pin Molex, and lots of other goodies. Oh... I've been advised that it's probably better not to use the small metal "roll pins" to lock together individual PowerPole housing pairs. At least one person has had problem with these pins popping out of the connectors and (potentially) bouncing around in the vicinity of battery terminals or other "hot" electrical contacts. Not good. If you want to lock together the red and black halves of a pair, I'm told that a drop of acetone or cyanoacrylate glue is a better way to do it. I don't know if this caution applies to the retention clips, as I haven't tried using these myself and don't know anyone who has. -- Dave Platt AE6EO Friends of Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads! |
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