I finally broke down and bought the RigRunner/PowerPole Starter Package from PowerWerx. The RigRunner is simply a distribution panel for the 12V power that runs all of the solid state devices in your shack.
I bought the Model 4008, which includes an input connector and eight connectors for your rigs. Each of the connectors is an Anderson PowerPole connector. Each is separately fused, using automotive style fuses for ease of use and widespread availability. There is also a small circuit that measures the input voltage and three lights that note whether the voltage is normal, overvoltage, or undervoltage.
The RigRunner is a great design and well-made, but gives the impression that it is overpriced. It is, after all, just a patch panel. You could, of course, build it yourself, but that takes time. So, the question is how much your time’s worth.
Unfortunately, the documentation provided by the manufacturer is not really very good. I could not find any instructions on how to crimp the contacts and insert them into the housings. Unfortunately the Anderson website was not much help, either.
I ended up criming the contacts with a cheap electrical crimper, and in doing so deformed the contact enough so that it was difficult to insert all the way into the housing. After much cajoling, I did manage to force it all the way in, but it wasn’t pretty. I think I’m going to go buy the right crimper. That will be another ten bucks.
I wish I’d read the assembly instructions on the Wake County RACES/ARES website. It would have saved me a lot of grief.
In the end, though, I’ll have a versatile system capable of supply the proper voltage to both my HF rig and my VHF rig as well as any other accessories in the shack. Not only will it make setup and teardown easier, but it will also give me the added reassurance that each of the lines is fuse-protected.
UPDATE 3/12/12: I did eventually purchase a Gardner-Bender crimper similar to the one that’s referenced on the Wake County RACES/ARES website. I think I paid about ten bucks for it. It has one position to actually make the crimp and a second position to make the terminal barrel round again. It works just fine.
I have since purchased the Tri-Crimp crimper sold by PowerWerx. It costs more ($40), but it was designed specifically to crimp PowerPole terminals, and when used properly, produces a perfect crimp. I also purchased the insertion/extraction tool. It works OK, but it’s probably not worth the money. A small screwdriver with a fine blade works just as well, if you ask me.
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