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  1. FT-857
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molex power connection question

 

I have a molex power cord with just one pos and neg wire connected.
The oem connector ( which i cannot find) has two pins to pos and two to neg?
Mine seems to work o.k. but wondering if anyone knows of issues running the radio with this connector
thanks
jack
w4grj
 

"Molex" connectors were originally used for connection of equipment such as low-voltage DC connections like rack power supplies, which would normally plug and unplug only when the unit needed to be replaced (repair).?

If? your857 is permanently left in the shack that should not be a problem but if you are going to be used at home and taken out to your car for mobile applications and/or portable use you will eventually have damaged contacts.

"Emergency Organisations" like Raynet in UK, and the equivalent in other countries recommend "Power Pole" connectors as a standard which means that equipment can be swapped easily between applications (different radios, different locations etc) and have several other properties that make them ideal for us and also have almost unlimited plug/unplug lives.? All of my equipment uses PowerPoles and I cut my 12v leads on my 857 with an adapter with about 12 inches of wire from the Molex to a PowerPole, which can then be plugged into my shack supply or to a lead from my car battery -- or even into the car (or shack) of another Raynet member.

?. . . but set up your adapter, plug it into the 857 before it starts giving problems !

Stu, G3OCR


On Sun, Aug 28, 2022 at 9:52 PM Jack Satterfield <jack@...> wrote:
I have a molex power cord with just one pos and neg wire connected.
The oem connector ( which i cannot find) has two pins to pos and two to neg?
Mine seems to work o.k. but wondering if anyone knows of issues running the radio with this connector
thanks
jack
w4grj


--
Sty Nutt, G3OCR
 

If you are referring to common molex used to power hard drives ... you are pushing it.
Over the years there have been issues with "standard? " Yaesu power connector - not making sufficient contact
The results are noticeable - intermittent RF power output , and the connector gets? warm...
You can sometime see it on build-in source meter...
 

i use power pole connectors
based on what you said¡­i think the short answer is the oem connectors double the connections
for backup.
thanks
jack
w4grj
 

One issue with the "Molex" connector is that is is not a Molex connector. It is a Japan Standard 6 pin power plug and there is a difference in the sizes of the connecting pins. This is one reason people have problems with these plugs so often. That and time and wear and tear takes? their toll.
I have made adapters to replace the 6 pin radio side with Anderson Power Poles and that would be a good answer if someone would step up to produce them.?
I have seen numerous instances of low power due to bad connections and voltage drop under load.?
Basically a pretty Mickey Mouse application of a small diameter pin and socket that easily loses tension with heating and removal and reconnections.
If you replace the pins look for the correct pins and not the "Close enough" Molex pins and sockets.
?
 

Each connector in the molex connector is only rated for 15a so to make the 20a requirement of the 857 yausu paralleled the connections. On low continuous current modes like SSB you should be fine. High continuous current modes like digital modes could melt the connector.
--
Leonard K. Pennock (AD7AS)


On August 28, 2022 1:52:14 PM MST, Jack Satterfield <jack@...> wrote:
I have a molex power cord with just one pos and neg wire connected.
The oem connector ( which i cannot find) has two pins to pos and two to neg?
Mine seems to work o.k. but wondering if anyone knows of issues running the radio with this connector
thanks
jack
w4grj

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