To add to what Howard has said here, I have an Anderson Power Pole
distribution box for my home shack here.  It's called a rigrunner.

I bought it back in 2009 when out in Colorado, and wondered why I hadn't
purchased it sooner.

It saves a lot of hassles with connectors, and the automotive-type fuses for
each amperage-value connection type cost next to nothing, and are very easy
to replace if needed.

Tom Behler: KB8TYJ'


-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Howard, W A 9 Y B W
Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2014 5:28 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Anderson Power Pole

Ron,

West Mountain Radio is a good source for Anderson Powerpole products.

West Mountain sells various distribution boxes that use the Powerpoles. 
These boxes come with 5 to 12 powerpole connections so that you can connect
all of your stations 12 volt equipment to one power supply.  Each of the
powerpole connectors is fused with an easy to change and obtain automotive
type fuse.

The powerpole system consists of two plastic housings, one is red and the
other is black in color.  There are metal contacts that you attach to your
power leads of your various pieces of equipment that then snap in to the
plastic housings.  These contacts come in three sizes, up to 15 amps, up to
30 amps and up to 45 amps.

The 15 amp contacts accept number 20 - 16 gauge wire the 30 amp contacts
accept 16 - 12 gauge wire the 45 amp contacts accept 14 - 10 gauge wire.

The contacts are crimped on to the wires with a specific crimping tool.

The plastic housings are made so that they snap, actually slide together so
they make a solid rigid two connector plug.

The housings and contacts are designed so that you do not have a male and
female connector.  It is kind of hard to describe how they work but two of
the same connectors can be connected together.

They are actually keyed so that you can not connect them backwards.

A 12 pair pack, consisting  of 24 contacts, 12 red and 12 black housings
costs $13 for the 15 and 30 amp versions and $18 for the 45 amp versions. 
Packs of 100 pairs cost $80 and $120 respectively.

Hope this helps.

Howard #3