[TenTec] Cautionary Tale: Orion 13.8 V connector (long)

[Denton]

I don't crimp my APP connectors...I solder them...
and I agree about the brass bolts
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul Christensen" <w9ac at arrl.net>
To: "'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment'" <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 2:38 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Cautionary Tale: Orion 13.8 V connector (long)


>> My current Omni 6, I pulled out the dc cable connector and installed
> a pig tail with a much stouter dc connector...30 amp power poles.
>
> As a pig-tail, this is probably fine.  However, I have measured as much as 
> ~
> 0.3 VDC dropped across properly crimped, standard-sized Anderson PP
> connectors under 12VDC/20A loads.  In some instances, the very act of
> crimping will bend the contact surface such that it is no longer in-line
> with the barrel.  The result is that the contacts may not mate evenly.
> After each crimp, I check for barrel-to-contact alignment.  It's really a
> shame that such extraordinary measures are required to properly seat the 
> APP
> and keep them mated.
>
> I cannot imagine the APP connector being used directly on the rear panel 
> of
> a transceiver, although one manufacturer is about to release a 100W rig in
> July with APP panel connectors.  Since heavy gauge wire is generally used
> for powering, the slightest movement of the radio may be enough to 
> slightly
> unseat the connector and that's something you don't want to see at 20A 
> while
> transmitting.  Since the APP is a non-locking device, I've seen them weld
> together while they are inadvertently flexed under high-current 
> conditions.
>
>
> A APP connector that appears to behave fine, may be on the ragged-edge of
> acceptable conductivity.  The way to know for sure is to measure the 
> voltage
> drop across the connector under full load.
>
> While at Dayton, I noticed that the folks at DCPwr.com had a nice power
> distribution panel with 80-amp APP connectors.  While we do not need 
> 80-amp
> connectors for the 100W class of radios, I find that the high capacity APP
> connectors offer much better mechanical rigidity than the junior sizes.
>
> http://www.dcpwr.com/products/product.php?id=134
>
> Personally, I would be perfectly happy with insulated, quarter-inch brass
> bolts placed on the back of the transceiver, allowing the owner to connect
> directly from the bolts to the power supply, or as you have done to your
> Omni Six, add the connector of your choice as an in-line pig-tail.
>
> Paul, W9AC
>
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