For what it's worth, I use PowerPoles extensively -- I use them for all
my 12V distribution on ham gear as well as time-nuts stuff. One great
advantage of the genderless design is that you can use extension cables,
breakout boxes, and other tools to solve lots of problems.
But they do lack as a chassis-mount connector. I was looking for
something inexpensive and reliable for 12V power on some rack enclosures
I was building, and came upon a series of connectors that I really
liked. They are Conxall/Switchcraft "Mini-Con-X" series, available in a
bunch of configurations from 2 to 8 or so pins. I use a 2-pin version
with solder-cup connectors that take up to 16 gauge wire. The chassis
version mounts in a 0.61 inch hole.
They're not throw-away cheap, but not unreasonable: the chassis
connector (Conxall/Switchcraft 7382-2PG-300, DigiKey SC2130-ND) is $4.32
quantity 1, and the matching in-line connector (Conxall/Switchcraft
6382-2SG-3DC, DigiKey SC1893-ND) is $7.06 quantity 1. I'm standardizing
on these for any 12V project that goes into a box. (If I do anything
with 24V, I'll probably use a 3 or 4 pin version to avoid mis-plugging
across the voltages.)
John
----
On 06/22/2017 01:45 PM, Brandon Graham wrote:
Having followed Time nuts for a bit, I guess I'll finally chime in.
For the PPs, it's like all other things, knowing the goods and bads. I've
been using PPs for years, starting with RC Warship Combat (Battleships that
shoot and sink each other, so lots of interchangeable parts), and have seen
some of the other hobby connectors in use. The hermaphroditic nature of
PPs are useful because you don't have to follow a standard as you can see
the polarity. Tamiya connectors from RC to Ham radio had a different
standard of opposite polarity with the same gender, allowing them to be
connected and blow equipment. If you are using a lot of PPs (We've gone
through several hundred at this point) you don't create a mismatch of male
vs female connectors in your stock. The double edge is that you can
connect things that shouldn't be connected if you are not careful.
The silver plated PPs also hold up better in wet environments. PPs are
bulkier than some other hobby connectors, but for a connector that is
connected and disconnected frequently, the PPs work very well.
A safety factor the PPs have is that all contacts are covered. There is no
exposed metal that could lead to a short. They have a audible and tactile
click when they are connected. They can also be oriented in ways to
prevent plugging different voltages together. They can also be very useful
in making large "bus" connectors, but are horribly bulky if something
smaller would do.
I'm not always a fan of chassis PPs on equipment (K3), and a short pigtale
from the equipment or a captive connector like the Molex is preferred to
then go to PP's. A command strip or other attachment on the equipment with
the power cable held to prevent disconnecting alleviates unplugging it
however.
My experience.
Brandon
W0GPR (ex-KB3IGC)
On Thu, Jun 22, 2017 at 11:25 AM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist <
rich...@karlquist.com> wrote:
No one has brought up the issue of hermaphrodicity, so
I will. Only PP's are hermaphroditic. Why does this
matter? It matters in the case of a battery. A battery
is both a power source and a power sink. In the PP
system, you can make a 3 way connection between a
power source, a power sink, and a battery, where
the battery float charges on the 12V bus it is connected
to. Non-hermaphroditic connector schemes do not allow
a 3 way connection. Attempting to do a work around
would require fabricating a special 3 way harness,
which would not be idiot proof.
This is the fundamental reason for using PP's.
If you never use batteries, then all the other
gendered connector schemes are fair game.
As far as connectors pulling out is concerned:
use a cable clamp to strain relieve the connection.
Rick N6RK
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