All great information Eric (thank you) but I have two or three of the proper crimpt tools for each size terminal/contact and have experienced the high current failure problem with more than my fair share of properly made small powerpole connectors made by others and myself.
cheers, skipp > "Eric Lemmon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I suspect that part of the problem seen by a few PowerPole users is that the > wrong tool was used to crimp the terminals. The correct tool should be > intended for non-insulated terminals, which rules out those made for > insulated lugs, as well as Vise-Grips and Channel-Lock pliers. Both Thomas > & Betts and Gardner-Bender make the correct tools. I personally like the > T&B WT111M Crimping Tool, shown on page J92 of the Thomas & Betts catalog > here: > > <www-public.tnb.com/contractor/docs/catamount.pdf> > > The PowerPole terminal lug must be crimped with a tool that indents the body > of the terminal without altering the outside diameter or shape. I have seen > a lot of these terminals so badly deformed that they could not be fully > inserted into the PowerPole insulator shell; it's not surprising that poor > contact results. > > I'd like to pass along a tip: The next time you buy a bag of PowerPole > connectors, take the time to cement the red and black insulators into pairs, > using a slow-setting cyanoacrylate glue. Loctite "Goof Proof" Super Glue is > a good choice, since it stays liquid long enough to get the two halves of > the connector aligned. When I have connector bodies prepared in advance, it > takes just seconds to make up a new power cord using #10 AWG red/black > primary wire from a spool. > > I have been using the 30-ampere Anderson PowerPole connectors for many > years, and have never had any problems with them. > > 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Fred Flowers > Sent: Saturday, March 24, 2007 8:42 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Power-Pole connectors NOT for power > > What is the problem? The directions say, "Push in until they click". How > hard is that? The little ones go together just like the big ones. Anybody > with one eye and half sense can do it. They are the greatest thing to come > along since caned beer. I use West Mountain rig runners in my truck, in the > shack, & in my travel trailer. I've never had any problem. > > Fred N4GER > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > <mailto:Repeater-Builder%40yahoogroups.com> > [mailto:[email protected] > <mailto:Repeater-Builder%40yahoogroups.com> ] On Behalf Of Paul Metzger > Sent: Saturday, March 24, 2007 10:31 AM > To: [email protected] > <mailto:Repeater-Builder%40yahoogroups.com> > Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: Power-Pole connectors NOT for power > > I second that. > > I myself have found these little power pole connectors (which are > recommended by emergency groups) to be a bit too delicate for me. And > if improperly built, will have little or almost no contact tension at > all. Honestly I was a little shocked when I started seeing these > little buggers marketed for emergency amateur radio purposes. The > bright side I see in that is everyone can connect with minimal fuss. > But if the connectors were improperly built, I wouldn't be surprised > to see a few of these tapped up during a real disaster in order to > keep them from falling out of their other mating half. > > For years, I myself have utilized the larger SB 50A Anderson > connectors on my primary Amateur Radio (TS-450 / IC-910) and Solar > system at my home QTH. Now try and pull those babies apart. Talk > about contact tension. You can't accidently tug on you power harness > and pull these apart. > > One more thing, my jaw dropped when I had built my K2-100W. It uses a > chassis mount variant of the tiny power pole connectors out from the > rear of the unit. > > Well, just my two cents. > > Paul Metzger > K6EH >
