Alternative to rig runner?

[KF5AMX]

So I love the concept of the rig runner, but I don't like the connections.  They are weak, not very rugged, doesn't attach real firm, and you cant easily remove a device that you wired for a rig runner and plug it to your buddy's battery or power supply if need be. 

Are there any alternatives?  And that use banana plugs, as they are always pretty robust?

Thanks

[K7MH]

MFJ has some different models for you to look at. It seems to me there are some with banana jacks, some with Anderson power pole connectors and some with an assortment of connectors. Not sure though, I didn't look them up.

[K8AC]

The Anderson power pole connectors have become the standard power connector at least in the ham world.  The only downside that I've seen after years of using them in the shack is that they can more easily be pulled apart than some of the alternatives.  On the other hand, they make excellent low resistance contact and are available in a variety of current ratings to match the load requirements.  I have power supplies here that have bolt terminal connections and I've assembled a pigtail for each one with an Anderson connector on the end.  If I were you, I'd stick with the Power Poles as used in the Rig Runner and make up a couple of pig tails that would accommodate whatever terminals you think you might run into on power supplies.  With the MFJ and other units that use banana plugs, there's no protection against inserting the plugs into the wrong terminals and thus reversing the polarity - a potentially expensive mistake. 

[G8JNJ]

I'm surprised that no-one ever seems to mention the great advantage that Anderson power poles have over other connectors - The fact that they are genderless. You can plug connectors together without having to worry about having the correct sex plug on the end of the wire.

It saves a lot of hassle because you can plug batteries, rigs, chargers, power supplies or whatever together without having to hunt around for adaptors or sex changers.

A great advantage when out portable and need to charge a gel cell from the car battery or under emergency conditions when you don't want additional complications.

I use the bigger moulded versions which I've recovered from scrap APC UPS units. Just Pop out the connector pins, by pressing down on the spring steel retaining clips. Then drill out the crimped cable from the pins with a bench drill. Solder new wire in as required and pop the pins back in to the connector shell.

Regards,

Martin - G8JNJ

www.g8jnj.webs.com

[K1CJS]

Powerpoles ARE easy to pull apart.  That is one good reason to have sufficient wire so that there is no pulling strain on it.  But if you're concerned with the possibility of them coming apart accidently, there is a retainer clip that keeps them together that is sold separately.