[TenTec] Molex Connectors

[Dr. Gerald N. Johnson]

On Tue, 2009-01-27 at 19:15 +0000, ac9s at mchsi.com wrote:
> "The white multi-pin rectangular connectors used by Ten Tec for power 
> on their radios during the 70s and 80s are Molex connectors. They 
> come in several sizes. You buy the white housings and the pins 
> separately. There are male and female housings and male and female 
> pins. The newest Ten Tec radio I own is an Omni V, and it also uses 
> Molex for power. Newark, Allied, Mouser, Digikey are the sources. 
> They aren't very expensive and they're moderately robust, but 
> they're a bit of a PITA, because once a pin is inserted in the 
> housing, it's next to impossible to get it out without a special 
> tool. And although they latch pretty solidly, it can be a PITA to 
> unlatch them!   
> 
> The white multi-pin rectangular connectors used by Ten Tec for power 
> on their radios during the 70s and 80s are Molex connectors. They 
> come in several sizes. You buy the white housings and the pins 
> separately. There are male and female housings and male and female 
> pins. The newest Ten Tec radio I own is an Omni V, and it also uses 
> Molex for power. Newark, Allied, Mouser, Digikey are the sources. 
> They aren't very expensive and they're moderately robust, but 
> they're a bit of a PITA, because once a pin is inserted in the 
> housing, it's next to impossible to get it out without a special 
> tool. And although they latch pretty solidly, it can be a PITA to 
> unlatch them!  "
> 
> You can buy molex connectors in a variety of configurations at your local Radio Shack.  Also, They make an inexpensive little tool that fits over individual pins, compresses the portion that expands, and allows one to easily remove them from the nylon housing.  I use molex connectors in all my control lines - rotator, remote antenna switch, Steppir line - so that I can easily disconnect them when I am away from the radio.  Some of these little connectors have lasted for 15+ years with nary a failure in a daily connect, disconnect cycle.  I think they are one of the great bargains in our hobby.
> 
But not the series that fits the power on vintage Tentecs. They might
have the mate for the remote VFO though. Last I checked the prices from
TenTec or Mouser for the power connector were nearly the same.

> Keith
> AC9S 
> _______________________________________________
73, Jerry, K0CQ