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Reviews For: West Mountain Radio RIGrunner 4012

Category: DC Power Supply Distribution

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Review Summary For : West Mountain Radio RIGrunner 4012
Reviews: 35MSRP: 99.95
Description:
A RIGrunner is the most convenient and safest way to connect all of your 12 volt equipment to a power source. It is a 13.8 VDC power panel that uses the excellent Anderson PowerPole connectors. Standardize all of your 12 VDC connections using the amateur radio ARES & RACES PowerPole system.

120 VAC appliances have the same plugs and sockets. Why shouldn't 12 VDC connectors be standard?
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.westmountainradio.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00354.5
WB0EGR Rating: 2003-03-30
Love It Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
It's nice to be able to have one place to plug in all the various 12VDC accessories and rigs. I'm very happy that I went with the RIGrunner 4012 over a binding post distribution panel!! Thank you West MOuntain Radio!!!
K2GW Rating: 2003-03-14
Essential ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The RigRunner is incredible. Sold my MFJ binding post bus and will never go back. You plug in 110 VAC devices, don't you? Then why put up with random hunks of wire for 12 VDC?

Not only does it use the ARES/RACES standard Anderson Powerpoles, it also uses commonly available ATO automotive blade fuses. Mouser Electronics carries the more difficult to find 35 and 40 Amp ones, but the lower values are in any auto parts store.

By having everything on a common 12VDC bus, you can easily switch to emergency power or even float a 12VDC gel cell (with adequate blocking diodes or other mods to the power supply) on the bus for automatic standby power.

In addition to the 4012 at my home shack, we installed 4008's at our club shack and at the county EOC. Makes it a breeze to bring your own equipment out there to operate or pull a rig for maintenance.

Finally, one club member reports since he installed the 4005 in his car, he's finally able to get full power out of his rig.

If you're not using one, get one today!

73

Gary, K2GW

K0KAV Rating: 2003-02-07
Outstanding Product Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Much, much better than the MFJ products which I eliminated when I bought my Rigrunners. Fantastic in the shack, mobile and portable set-ups. I use the 4005 in mobile and portable ops and never leave home without them. Money well spent.
K8ND Rating: 2002-12-21
One of the Top 10 Accessories Ever! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
There are a few products in the amateur market that stand out as Really Good Ideas, and a few of those are Really Well Realized. Phillistran non-metalic guy material is one, IMHO. This series of DC power distribution products is another!

Such a simple idea in the case of the 4005 product, and some extra features on the 4012. I bought a 4005 for use at the PJ2T station at Signal Point in Curacao during CQWW CW, and it greatly simplified the installation of the temporary sixth station.

I purchsed a 4012 to clean up my home station DC wiring. I eliminated several wall-warts and a maze of Y-cable extended cables with Jones connectors.

I would like to have some lower-value fuses (1 amp are the smallest available), as many of my accessories normally draw only 100 milliamps or so.

As I said, a Really Good Idea, and built with quality in a solid fashion! Highly recommended!
K1BRF Rating: 2002-11-28
Super for Emergency Com Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Best thing since a pocket on a shirt! The Anderson connectors are a standard and this makes coordinating and clearly labelling Powerpoles easy as pie. Distribution and monitoring of power is a problem that has been solved. Have this in the shack and another version in the car. The fusing is clear, simple, standards, the "OK" status works well and the quality is excellent. A lot of things we buy do not live up to expectations; this product greatly exceeded my greatest expectations. Hats off to West Mountain!
K1RDD Rating: 2002-11-27
Great standardization idea Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The combination of rigrunners and powerpoles is a great idea. A buddy of mine and I have standardized all of our home, mobile and club equipment with great results. Swapping rigs around is a breeze, and the power supplies are no longer a mess of "where is that wire?". During a recent contest when one of our club rigs gave us problems, I ran home, unplugged mine, ran back to the club, plugged in and we were good to go.
KE3GK Rating: 2002-10-27
This is the best Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
How did I ever operate without one of these ? Great construction. This is one of the best products that I have ever added to my shack.
KB6TRR Rating: 2002-10-22
No More Ratsnest Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased a 4008, and could not believe all of the excess wire I was able to remove from my shack. Took about an hour or so to connect my rigs. Was able to get rid of wall mounted transformers which improved appearance. An added bonus was getting rid of an anoying rf problem which was undoubtedly due to inductive rf coupling of all of the power cables behind my gear. Nice product.
K7RNR Rating: 2002-10-14
Nice piece of work! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought a 4008 RigRunner this weekend from HamStuff at the Kitsap County, WA HamFest.

Excellent piece of work! Nice board, good quality ... I certainly couldn't have done it better. Thank you West Mountain. I'm going to purchase a couple more for the emergency kit and mobile setup.

Jim K7RNR
KS3J Rating: 2002-08-26
Great idea! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought one of these at the 2002 Charlotte Hamfest, and could not be happier. I have it bolted down to the top rear of my radio bench, and in that position there's little or no need for strain relief, everything dresses out nicely and is secure. I have managed to blow a fuse or two (mainly due to stupid manufacturers who wire their pin plugs tip negative), but locating and replacing a blown fuse is simple, and the fuses are readily available! Nice going, guys ... I'm going to buy the 5-outlet version and rework my mobile setup now!