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.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "T Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 8:43 AM
Subject: anderson power poles re-visited


> Hi, all.
>
> On our local ARES/RACES mnet last night, we discussed the importance of
> having interchangeable HF, VHF, and UHF equipment, should the need ever
> arise.
>
> As we discussed the issue, I immediately became aware that I had created a
> problem for myself, with the purchase of my new Kenwood TMV71A, and TS480
> rigs.  Initially, I had things pretty much set up with Anderson Power Pole
> connections for all of my equipment, most of which was either Icom or HT's
> of one kind or another.
>
> Now, I'm facing the need to adapt  my Kenwood stuff to work with the
> Anderson power poles.
>
> So, I have a few questions:
>
> 1.  Is West Mountain Radio still the best place to get Anderson Power 
> poles,
> or is there now a better source?
>
>
> 2.  I know this may sound elementary, but, for my new Kenwood equipment,
> would you guys recommend that I cut off and replace the supplied molex
> connector between the rig and the power cord, and put power poles there, 
> or
> just put them on the very end of the power cord?  Adding them to the end 
> of
> the power cord seems to me that you'd then introduce two potential failure
> points into the power connection--one at the power pole, and the other at
> the original molex connection.
>
> 3.  If I do the Anderson Power pole connections independently, how do I 
> know
> which are the red and black pins, or do they only fit into the housing one
> way?  Also, on the typical connector housing, what's the proper way to
> arrange the pins, or do they only go in one way?
>
> 4.  Does anyone use the crimping tool for these connectors, and if so, are
> the connections made as reliable as soldered connections?  Also, where can 
> I
> get the crimping tool?
>
> 5.  Does anyone have a nice easy-to-use step-by-step blind-friendly set of
> instructions for putting the power poles together?
>
> If anyone wants to e-mail me privately on this, that's fine.  Just use:
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
> However, maybe others could benefit from whatever info is provided here.
>
> Thanks as always, and 73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ
>