From gdt@garlic.LCS.MIT.EDU Wed Mar 10 16:35:22 1993 Return-Path: Received: from world.std.com by meceng.coe.northeastern.edu (4.1/SMI-4.1) id AA28847; Wed, 10 Mar 93 16:35:15 EST Received: from GARLIC.LCS.MIT.EDU by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA28237; Wed, 10 Mar 1993 16:30:34 -0500 Received: by garlic.LCS.MIT.EDU id AA27221; Wed, 10 Mar 93 16:30:31 EST Date: Wed, 10 Mar 93 16:30:31 EST From: gdt@garlic.LCS.MIT.EDU (Greg Troxel) Message-Id: <9303102130.AA27221@garlic.LCS.MIT.EDU> To: barc-list@world.std.com Cc: gdt@garlic.LCS.MIT.EDU Subject: standard power connectors ordered Status: OR In "Field Forum," the ARRL Field Services Department has recomended "MOLEX Series 1545" connectors for 12V "for use in promoting compatibility and interchangeability among personal VHF/UHF radio equipment at disaster and public event sites." A conforming connector is available at Radio Shack as 274-222 for $0.99 for a pair. The accompanying diagram shows that the triangle end is to be hooked up to +12V, and the flat side to ground. The 'plug' is to be used for radios, with male pins. The 'receptacle' is to be used for supplies, with female pins. The receptacle is the connector body part which most protects the pins; the plastic part of the receptacle actually fits inside the plastic part of the plug. SUMMARY OF CONNECTOR NOMENCLATURE Please do not use the words 'male' and 'female' to describe the plastic connector bodies. Although the league does, MOLEX does not and instead uses the following terms. Plug - leaves pins exposed, generally use male pins. plastic fits over the body of the receptacle Receptable - covers pins, generally use female pins plastic fits inside body of plug ARRL recommendation summary: use plugs for devices, with male pins use receptacles for supplies, for female pins pin near triangle end is +12V, other pin is GND IF YOU AREN'T SURE ASK BEFORE WIRING - DON'T MAKE UP ANY BACKWARDS CONNECTORS WHAT BARC HAS ORDERED I just placed an order for 1200 pairs of connectors, of which ~850 are for BARC. The plugs will not have 'mounting ears', and the receptacles will; the latter can be panel mounted if you can make rectangular holes in a chassis. The pins I ordered will take 14-20 gauge wire; the ones on the connectors from Radio Shack take 18-22 gauge. The current rating on the MOLEX parts is 12 amps. Radio Shack says 8 amps on their package. The ARRL also says 8 amps for some unexplained reason, which I suspect is that they only shop at Radio Shack. The net cost should be just under $0.40/pair. If it were up to me, they would be sold to members at the following rates: 10 pairs for $5 50 pairs for $20 (if cost is indeed under 0.40) The reason is that connector bodies come in packages of 10, and it seems pointless to split these up. Pins come in packages of 100, and one needs 2 pins per body, so 50 is the smallest size not requiring any significant counting on the part of the person dealing with this for the club (which will not be me). Thus, pricing the 50 pair sets closer to cost will reduce the workload on the distributor, as I suspect he or she will not want to split bags of 100 pins into groups of 20 just for fun. I encourage people to group up and buy sets of 50 and split them up if they want smaller quantities. NB: $20 will get you 50 pairs here, and only 19 at Radio Shack. For anyone who cares, here are the MOLEX part numbers and costs 03-09-2022 plug 1200 0.12 03-09-1021 recept 1200 0.12 02-09-2103 male pin 2500 0.025 02-09-1103 female pin 2500 0.025 (+ tax and shipping) 73 de n1dam Greg Troxel