Anderson PowerPole Standard? MFJ-1124

[Happy_Hamer]

Is there a standard for Anderson Powerpoles?

I bought a Buddipole Battery Pack that is terminated with Anderson Powerpoles.

Of course Red is positive and black is negative.

I ordered a power cord for my Elecraft KX3 from Powerwerx 2.1mm Right Angle DC Coaxial Power Plug to Powerpole Adapter 3ft. [DC21RA] - $7.99

The power cord connected properly to the Buddipole Battery Pack with no problems.

I also ordered a banana plug jumper from Powerwerx Powerpole to Banana Plug Adapter Cable [PP-2-Banana] - $9.99 so I can connect my charger to the Buddipole Battery Pack and it connected with no issues at all.

Last year I bought an MFJ-1124 DC Power Outlet MFJ Enterprises Inc. but never used it. I went to connect the power cords to the MFJ and they will only plug in red to black :angry: (REVERSED POLARITY)!!!

I thought i could just switch the direction of the plugs easily but upon disassembly I discovered I have to desolder and orient the tabs so it will work.

Is there a standard that someone is missing here? Am I missing something?

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

It has been my experience that you can configure them however you want in order to prevent cross polarity. I would be surprised if you could not separate the connectors and turn them such that they would connect properly. Then again you did say the odd ball was MFJ so I am not so surprised after all.

 

[Happy_Hamer]

Here is the pictures of what I have

 

[W5LZ]

MFJ's arrangement seems to be just backwards of most that I've seen or had experience with. No idea why.
As for switching the poles, left to right, there's no need to unsolder anything. Merely slide the connectors apart, swap 'side' and re connect them.
So which orientation of the red/black is the correct one? I would assume the makers of those connectors should/could be the originators of a 'standard', wouldn't you think? That's how mine are arranged, they follow the connector scheme from the connector 'blocks' made by the makers of the Anderson Power Poles. Got some particular reason to do it differently? Ought'a work just fine as long as you make 'your' method known. Or just don't slide those connectors together permanently.
- 'Doc

 

[Happy_Hamer]

I sent MFJ the above pictures and an explanation of the issue.

MFJ is sending me a new replacement power outlet and a return shipping label so I can return mine.

Will follow up to this thread when the replacement arrives.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Any bets the new one is the same as the one you have now?

 

[mackmobile43]

Any bets the new one is the same as the one you have now?

Them boy in Sippi are always trying to buck the system

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Was that "buck" with a "B" or an "F"?

 

[AudioShockwav]

LOL
You know I have had plenty of MFJ stuff over the years, several tuners, antenna analyzer, coax switches and little things.
I have found a few loose screws, my "legal limit tuner" never sat flat on the desk, but it did work, all though it sounded like a transmission out of a 61 chevy truck with no oil in it when you were cranking the roller
I arc`ed the roller over in it one time trying to load up on 160 with a un-realistically short antenna, and just a tad too much power,,Buzzft snap snap.
I called MFJ, and even though the tuner was beyond warranty, they told me to send it in.
Two weeks later it showed up fixed with a shinny new roller inductor in it, and the only thing charged to my card was shipping back to me.
At time`s it seems that the quality control is overlooked but they do honor the " no matter what " warranty.

73
Jeff

 

[Happy_Hamer]

I took a few pictures of the inside of the MFJ-1124

I uploaded them to imageshack so we can keep the large images

if the tongue tabs were spun 180 degree it would work properly, of course you also have to adjust the plastic housings as well as I did below on the last picture

 

[Moleculo]

It will be interesting to see if this is a one off mistake or if they are all this way. I'm guessing that they will have to change it at manufacturing, though. I see why this is an issue with Happy_Hamer, though. If you're going to move something like a KX3 transceiver between a battery pack and a power strip, the last thing you want to do is to have to reverse the power leads every time. That one time you have had one too many beers and forget to do it before plugging in could be a real problem.

 

[Moleculo]

It will be interesting to see if this is a one off mistake or if they are all this way. I'm guessing that they will have to change it at manufacturing, though.

I happened to relay this story to Gordon West at field day and he said he bought one of these a while back that was backwards, as well. Apparently there were thousands of these out in circulation until the problem was corrected in manufacturing.

 

[Happy_Hamer]

Sorry for the late reply.

MFJ sent me the replacement, FREE overnight, and I had it Friday night. I was able to use it at field day. The connections were all correct. I couldn't be happier!

Thanks to MFJ!

 

[Se7en]

Off Topic, Just curious how much was that power pole @ Happy_Hammer

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Check out the MFJ website and see.