[TowerTalk] Thanks for responses - Cinch Jones

[jimlux]

On 8/21/19 9:30 AM, Dan Atchison via TowerTalk wrote:
> Thanks to all who responded.
> 
> My original post neglected to mention I was looking for 8-pin Cinch 
> Jones inline connectors, M and F (300 series).?? I did find some on eBay 
> and ordered them at a premium.
> 
> For those who suggested electronics distributors - which I had prior to 
> my email - here's what I found:
> 
> Jameco - no eight pin and few others
> Mouser - no eight pin and few others
> Newark - no stock, only large quantities
> Digikey - ditto
> Electronics Surplus - most not in stock, 8 pin, no of course
> 
> Cinch Jones connectors where the defacto standard seemingly forever, but 
> I guess times have changed.

The Jones plug was invented by Howard Jones in the 1930s, and saw a lot 
of use in WW II as a multipin connector, so there was a lot of surplus 
available post war. It's not surprising that some of the older ham gear 
was designed to use that connector, and it was in wide use up through 
the 50s, and probably 60s.

That said, I don't know that I've seen *new* equipment using Cinch Jones 
connectors designed in the last 50 years (since 1970), except for 
something made to be compatible with earlier vintage equipment. Flat 
blades, no locking mechanism, no environmental protection. 300 series is 
250V, 10A contacts, which isn't particularly exotic.


I suppose, if you've got an application where there's lots of mate 
demate cycles but limited vibration, the flat blade and spring works ok 
- it wipes on mate, and it's inexpensive to manufacture.

It's just that there's so many potentially better connectors out there 
these days. Things like locking capabilities, shrouded contacts, good 
vibration handling, inexpensive termination and cable manufacturing, etc.




> 
> Several of you responded with Anderson Powerpoles which are fine, but no 
> strain relief - at least I can't find them with strain reliefs.?? To me 
> that's an important option because I disconnect everything when the 
> station is not in use - regardless of my grounding to Motorola's R-56 
> standards in which, as I knock on wood, I've not had a lightning strike 
> (nice run-on sentence).?? Murphy, keep your distance.

Indeed, there's no powerpole "housing" with a separate cable clamp 
(like, e.g., the inexpensive circular plastic connectors). However, the 
"pull out force" for the contact, once it's inserted in the housing, is 
pretty high.

There are panel mount configurations that interlock with the little 
channels on the powerpoles.


So maybe the question is what strain are you looking to relieve?