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Author Topic: powerpole connectors  (Read 719 times)

KB3Z

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powerpole connectors
« on: September 26, 2022, 04:25:03 PM »

Good Evening,
I would like to connect a 403A Antenna Genius to my Power Supply in the shack.
My Power Supply have Power Pole connections on it.
The one end of the power cable would be a Powerwerx would be a DX25ST    https://powerwerx.com/25mm-straight-coaxial-powerpole-adapter
This cable is only 6 feet in length. So I would need an extension cable of perhaps 20 to 25 feet to connect to the powerpole end of the cable and then connect to the powerpole connection on my power supply.
The one question I don't know how to answer is what powerpole connectors do I need on both ends of the extension cable.
I am sure that I am not the only one who has done this.
Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.
Mark Griffin, KB3Z
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WA2EIO

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Re: powerpole connectors
« Reply #1 on: September 26, 2022, 04:48:40 PM »

Power Poles are not 'male-female' but will mate with each other, so all you need is the correct length cable with Power Poles on each end.   

The contacts come in 15, 30 and 45 Amp sizes to fit the appropriate gauge cable, but the plastic housings for all 3 current levels is the SAME, so they will all mate with each other.  From what you describe, you  will need an extension cord, which will have a red/black pair of PP connectors on each end, and it will mate with the PP connectors on the  short cable and on the power supply. 

Cables can be made, or purchased from various suppliers.   Some favorites are DX Engineering, PowerWerx, West Mountain Radio, Valley Enterprises, and more.
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KB3Z

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Re: powerpole connectors
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2022, 04:52:10 PM »

Ron,
Thanks so much for your help!
You answered my question.
Mark Griffin, KB3Z
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K0UA

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Re: powerpole connectors
« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2022, 06:48:05 PM »

Also, there is a standard for power-pole polarity. Remember the all R rhyme "red, right, roof".

The Red connector housing goes on the Right (as viewed from the front) and the metal connector element in that Red housing is on the Roof. The top of the Red connector housing.
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73  James K0UA

W9WQA

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Re: powerpole connectors
« Reply #4 on: September 26, 2022, 08:16:51 PM »

xt 90.
90 amp conn, solder type, Cannot connect WRONG[/img]
oops
cant do pix sorry

just chek xt90 conn
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N2SR

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Re: powerpole connectors
« Reply #5 on: September 27, 2022, 04:42:59 AM »

or get someone to make it for you

 
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W4FID

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Re: powerpole connectors
« Reply #6 on: September 27, 2022, 05:51:10 AM »

Red, right, roof is "standard" so as you are looking at the pair of PP with the wire going away from you the red one is on the right and the black one is on the left and the metal tang is on the top of both of them.

The vendor the other guy mentioned are all good. Also Tower in green Bay and Quick Silver in CN are good sources.
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K5LXP

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Re: powerpole connectors
« Reply #7 on: September 27, 2022, 06:00:56 AM »

Powerpoles are like lays potato chips - you don't have just one.  If you're going to tool up to use powerpoles do yourself a favor and get a few dozen housings and a selection of 15, 30 and 45 amp pins.   Seems like a "waste" to spend a bunch of money on DC connectors and I'll be the first to say they're not ideal.  But they're pretty good and to date hard to beat, so bite the bullet and going forward when you need to make cables it's simple thing to do.

Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM
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N8YX

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Re: powerpole connectors
« Reply #8 on: September 27, 2022, 08:44:04 AM »

Powerpoles are like lays potato chips - you don't have just one.  If you're going to tool up to use powerpoles do yourself a favor and get a few dozen housings and a selection of 15, 30 and 45 amp pins.   Seems like a "waste" to spend a bunch of money on DC connectors and I'll be the first to say they're not ideal.  But they're pretty good and to date hard to beat, so bite the bullet and going forward when you need to make cables it's simple thing to do.

Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM
In my parts organizer bins (Akro-Mills) there is one entire drawer dedicated to shells and another segmented drawer for pins. Also bought the crimp tool.

In many years of using these I haven't had problems. Two Rig Runners (each hooked to its own 50A PSU) supply various low and mid-power devices throughout the shack. High-power DC transceivers are connected straight to the supplies or to a battery bank.
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K5LXP

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Re: powerpole connectors
« Reply #9 on: September 27, 2022, 09:38:08 AM »

My "disconnect" with them is lack of retention, environmental protection and strain relief.  But you can generally mitigate those and their benefits outweigh the downsides for the money.  I like how I can create unique orientations and pin positions using common parts.

Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM

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K6CPO

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Re: powerpole connectors
« Reply #10 on: September 27, 2022, 10:33:27 AM »

You need something like this. In the length you're talking about, I'd go with the heavier (10Ga) wire.

https://powerwerx.com/powerpole-connector-extension-cable
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WA3SKN

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Re: powerpole connectors
« Reply #11 on: September 27, 2022, 03:20:23 PM »

The real question is how much current you plan to draw, it determines the gauge of wire required and affects length.  Luckily, it is a low current device.  You can use smaller gauge wire and also smaller powerpoles if desired.  They make different size powerpoles.  What size are you currently using?

-Mike.
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WA2EIO

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Re: powerpole connectors
« Reply #12 on: September 27, 2022, 06:22:23 PM »

The real question is how much current you plan to draw, it determines the gauge of wire required and affects length.  Luckily, it is a low current device.  You can use smaller gauge wire and also smaller powerpoles if desired.  They make different size powerpoles.  What size are you currently using?

-Mike.

The size of the PP only effects the connector which fits the connecting wire.   The actual size of the units remains the same.   You can connect a 10 Gauge cable with PP (45 Amp) to a 16 gauge cable with PP (15 Amp) on it and they will fit, so talking about 'different sizes' can become confusing.   
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K4HB

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Re: powerpole connectors
« Reply #13 on: September 30, 2022, 08:49:36 AM »

Power Poles are not 'male-female' but will mate with each other, so all you need is the correct length cable with Power Poles on each end.   

So Powerpole connectors are sorta like you know.... Like this?

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K8AXW

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Re: powerpole connectors
« Reply #14 on: September 30, 2022, 09:59:35 AM »

Two of the three "disconnects" with P-Ps are easily solved.

Retention:  P-P will pull apart fairly easy.  I solved this by inserting a small wire tie through the retention hole.  I usually use a red wire tie as a flag.  Whenever I need to disconnect, it's a simple matter to pull out the wire tie. No fooling with those small retention "pins."

Strain relief:  If I have P-P connectors using small wires that may be subject to "strain" I fill the back of the P-P with hot glue.  The hot glue can also be formed onto the P-P and wire to form a true strain relief. Heavier wires normally shouldn't require strain relief.

Environmental protection: Wassat?
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