[WARC] WEPNET Discussion Topic Tonight????

[Erik Brom]

The most important thing is to have one or the other, and a few 
adapters on hand.  I remember now listening to you setting up field 
day and running into equipment that didn't have either.  Nearly every 
piece of 12V equipment I have has ARES connectors on it.  Almost 
before I use it I cut the cord and install the connector pair.  I 
would suggest everyone either do that, or construct an adapter, to go 
with every piece of 12v equipment they have.

When I got a pair of heavy duty 6V batteries, I built a small tool 
box with a West Mountain rig-runner, and several Molex adapters.

I too was heavily into Molex before ARES moved to Anderson.  So, I 
have kept everything Molex, but built several adapters.  My "power go 
box" has a bunch of adapters to other commonly used connectors and 
some long heavy duty extension cords.

There are some tradeoffs:
-The molex are polarized (source/load) which is good, most of the 
time, a pain sometimes..  Anderson are not polarized that way, which 
could be an advantage sometimes.
-The Anderson are rated for a higher current (not sure off-hand what 
that is).  The Molex are about 12A.  Enough for anything but an HF 
rig or a high power invertor.
-I haven't figured out how to correctly assemble the Anderson's yet - 
the couple I've done have had zero pull-apart force.

Erik



At 07:47 PM 08/03/08, you wrote:
>Can we discuss standardization of DC power connectors?  When I got 
>my license four+ years ago. there was discussion in amateur radio 
>about ARES standards being moved to Anderson Powerpoles.  However, 
>Molex connectors were the standard locally.  So I invested in Molex connectors.
>
>At Field Day 2008, we ran into at least one situation where a loaned 
>power supply was fitted with Powerpoles--created some consternation 
>(on my part, at least) and some scrambling while we fixed up a new power lead.
>
>What should I do now--stay with Molex or invest in Powerpoles????
>
>I don't know what other area hams are doing--Rochester, Wabasha, La 
>Crosse, etc.  What about local governmental emergency agencies????
>
>73,
>Len  KC0RSX
>
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