I think the west mountain radio one, which I have costs about $40 or $50. 
It's expensive, but it's a very high quality tool. If you've ever seen those 
good quality RF connector crimp tools, with the dye you replace for 
different types of coax connectors, it's the exact same thing but with a dye 
in it for Anderson power poles. The tool itself is the same and tools of 
that quality, generally cost about that much. I have a couple of the coax 
tools here, 1 I got for a project a few years ago and the other came in a 
professional coax crimp/stripping kit I paid big $$ for and both have the 
same tool but with a dye for coaxes instead of the power poles. So, if you 
have 1 of those crimp tools, maybe you can find the dye and save some money, 
I don't know but it's the 100% same exact thing. I know there are cheaper 
ones out there but when I got in to the power poles, I got the tool, the rig 
runner, the power poles, my first package of them, and went all out in 1 
shopping trip, online of course.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "T Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 1:43 PM
Subject: Re: anderson power poles re-visited


>    John:
>
> This is extremely helpful, and I really appreciate all that you've said
> here.
>
> Can you tell me roughly how much the crimping tool costs?
>
> As long as it isn't exorbitant, I think I'll get one, with the idea that
> it's an investment, and probably a once in a lifetime purchase.
>
> Thanks again for everything, John.
>
> You're a big help as usual.
>
> 73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "John Miller" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 9:08 AM
> Subject: Re: anderson power poles re-visited
>
>
>> The pins only go in 1 way, and they don't matter red or black, only the
>> housings matter there. Unfortunately you can get that backward, I usually
>> find sighted help and pare all my power pole housings up when I get them
>> the
>> right way so I don't have to worry about that in the future. I know west
>> mountain radio has the power poles, but I get mine on eBay, in high
>> quantities since I'm always changing equipment around over here. The 
>> crimp
>> tool can be bought from west mountain radio, I have it and where I've 
>> used
>> it I've never had a problem. As for where to put them, I usually leave 
>> the
>> connection at the radio alone and put the connectors on the end of the
>> power
>> cord and I'll tell you why, there are a few reasons. Number 1, if you 
>> have
>> a
>> rig runner like I do, the cord on the back of the radio, if any, is
>> nowhere
>> near long enough to reach it. Number 2, if there's an emergency and you
>> need
>> to put your equipment at a temporary station, or if you want to put it
>> mobile, or anything like that, if you put the power poles at the radio, 
>> on
>> that pigtail, and you come to say, my station, because of how things are
>> situated, that pig tale isn't going to make it and you'll have to come up
>> with an extension cable with power poles on it, I made up a few of these
>> for
>> that reason since a friend of mine puts them at the radio, where as I can
>> come to your station and get right on the air. The only time I use them 
>> at
>> the radio is if someone already cut them off there, or like my IC27H,
>> someone put another connector on there that I can't find or have the
>> equipment to make a cord out of so I put them on both ends of that cord,
>> but
>> I'd personally, keep the stock radio power cord as is and put the power
>> poles at the other end of the cord. You can do it at both ends if you
>> want,
>> but I'd suggest using the stock cord that comes with the radio with them
>> or
>> if you have another one made up use that. Stock connector on the radio
>> though, like I said, unless you want to change that and put them on the
>> stock power cord that comes with the radio. My way is how most people I
>> know
>> who run them do it. Stock connector at the radio, then the power poles on
>> the 6 foot or what ever cord that came with the radio. West mountain has 
>> a
>> pretty good description of how to put them on, that's how I learned as I
>> recall, I'd be happy to talk you through it if you'd like though. It's
>> very
>> easy with that tool.
>