[TowerTalk] [Bulk] Re: PowerPole connectors

[Grant Saviers]

Considering costs: If you need big amp (50 to 350 amp) connectors then 
SB series PPs are a terrific deal compared to any alternative I've 
seen.  I use them on winches on my ATV and backhoe and they are pretty 
much the standard for battery connections inside UPS systems.

Grant KZ1W

On 11/17/2014 3:26 PM, Jim Lux wrote:
> On 11/17/14, 12:47 PM, Bill Turner wrote:
>> ------------ ORIGINAL MESSAGE ------------(may be snipped)
>>
>> On Mon, 17 Nov 2014 11:13:18 -0800, Thomas wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> What happens if I bring a piece of equipment to your shack/Field Day 
>>> Op or you bring one to mine?
>>>
>>> The Emcomm world has pretty much standardized on PP with an agreed 
>>> polarity just for this reason  —  everything works everywhere.
>>
>> REPLY:
>>
>> I'm not against standardization, I just don't think PP is the best
>> answer, mainly because they are proprietary and overpriced.
>
>
> Proprietary is an issue.. you can't just run down to the local auto 
> parts store and buy them.
>
> In small quantities, 1 pair of connectors (1 red housing, 1 black 
> house, roll pin, 2 contacts) runs $1.  In 100 qty, it's more like $0.70.
>
> StaKon ring lugs from #8 screws are 66.45/100 from Grainger for the 
> blue AWG 12-14, that's $0.66 each.  So to wire up two wires, it would 
> be $1.32, which is *more* than the power pole.
>
> Digikey is a bit cheaper for uninsulated ones from AMP, at least in 
> that sort of quantity.   I'm sure you can find even cheaper ones on 
> alibaba, especially if you're willing to take a container load<grin>.
>
> Or, you can haunt the surplus places and find them, but that's not 
> really an apples to apples comparison.
>
>
> And you need to have multiple sizes of ring lugs for different wire 
> sizes.
>
>
> From a mate/demate time standpoint, the powerpoles win hands down.  1 
> second would be doing it slowly.
>
> Spade lug and captive screws on a terminal strip with a power 
> screwdriver might be able to do a wire in a few seconds.
>
> Ring lugs, with a hand screwdriver, standing on a ladder or tower, and 
> you drop the screw?
>
>
> I think that the various crimp/solder lugs are all about the same 
> assembly time.  Once you've done a few, they're fast.  It's mostly 
> about the wire prep: get the strip length right, mostly; and that 
> applies for all the lugs or connections.
>
>
>
>
>  If they
>> become generic and available everywhere cheaply I might change my
>> mind. Until then, ordinary crimp terminals do the job just fine.
>>
>
>
> That is the sole reason I can see to not use PP.  And I have had to 
> cut power poles off and use an alternate strategy (twist wires and 
> tape, as it happened).  But that's because I had no tools and no 
> supplies.  If I had even my smallest collection of tools, there's a 
> bunch of PP housings and pins down in the bottom of the tote that have 
> fallen out of the bag that could be pressed into service.
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>