In practice

摘要

I'd like to standardise on a reliable 12(13.8) V connector for various transceivers, amplifiers and power supplies, rated up to at least 20A. What can you recommend? The first thing to ask, I suppose, is: why use connectors at all? After all, the world has got along fine with screw terminals, banana plugs, croc clips, choc blocks and twisted wires. However, although these solutions do work, they start to fall apart (literally) if they have to be disconnected and re-connected frequently. Also, with nonpolarised methods such as these, there is a significant risk of reversing the connections or allowing them to short - especially if you tuck your power supplies or batteries away under the bench, so you have to make the connections down on your knees in poor light. At that point you start to appreciate the virtues of a connector that can just be plugged together by feel. The same applies to contest, special-event and Raynet groups, who have to plug together their stations in quick time and be able to swap equipment easily in the event of a breakdown.