Posted: 5/8/2010 12:22:43 PM EDT
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What is out there for 12V power distribution? The RigRunner stuff looks good but I don't want to spend that kind of money. All of my gear in the shack is rack mounted so I though about just buying a blank face plate and making my own with binding posts. What are you guys doing for 12V power distribution? |
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Quoted: What is out there for 12V power distribution? The RigRunner stuff looks good but I don't want to spend that kind of money. All of my gear in the shack is rack mounted so I though about just buying a blank face plate and making my own with binding posts. What are you guys doing for 12V power distribution? Thought about building my own rigrunner type setup as well. I may wind up just buying one, but tagging this in case anybody offers up some good DIY info  |
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The Rig Runner is more than just a row of sockets. Each socket is fused. There are also audible high and low volt alarms.
MFJ has similar power strips that you can get with either Anderson PowerPoles or 5-way binding posts. By the time you made up a panel, with the money you'll spend you could have spent your time better elsewhere. DO NOT underestimate your future 12v needs. I bought the RigRunner #4008, one in, 8 outlets. I have quickly gone to using almost all of the sockets, and probably should have bought the #4012. I have just one open now on the #4008. Anderson PowerPoles are the schiznitz!!! |
| Powerpoles are the only way to go IMHO. If the Rig Runners are too expensive (and they were for me) take a look at these. They aren't fused but you can usually add an inline fuse to whatever you're plugging in. |
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Most of my stuff draws less than 10 amps, so I've pretty much standardized on two-pin 0.092" Molex connectors. They are available with "ears" that allow the connector to snap into a rectangular-shaped panel hole. Cost of a connector (with pins) is about 50 cents.
I use a sheet metal nibbling tool (available at Radio Shack) to cut the connector mounting holes. To make the holes clean and evenly-spaced, I use a laser printer to print out a template on adhesive-backed paper - Stick the paper on the panel before drilling and using the nibbling tool. For circuit protection, I like to use PTC resettable fuses. Several companies (Bornes, Picofuse and Raychem/Tyco) make a wide variety of sizes. Typically, they're less than a buck apiece. |
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Quoted:
How much juice can you run through one of the 4012 rig runners? ETA: found the specs on their site. Second question, my station is run on two 20 amp power supplies. Can both power supplies feed into the one rigrunner? 40 amp fuse on the input. No, you can't use two supplies to feed it. |