Mobile Power Connectors

aaronp · Post by **aaronp** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 11:56 am

Does anyone have a good alternate source for the 12 volt power connectors that Motorola likes to use on their mobile radios?
I tried Mouser, but I don't even know what these things are called.
I tried "Power Connector" "DC power cable" and a bunch of other things, but never found what I wanted.

Post by **escomm** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:01 pm

I believe you would have to buy the entire power harness to get what you are looking for. Most likely the OEM part number you are looking for is HKN4137A. You ought to be able to find some aftermarket vendors that make these.

tvsjr · Post by **tvsjr** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:17 pm

I have the same problem. I bought quite a few of the connectors from Parts Express several years ago. Unfortunately, I've run out. I've got no problem finding the connectors with 18ga. wire (even Radio Shack sells them), but finding them with 12/14ga. wire is a near-impossibility.

I ordered a few from Kendoo to hold me over for right now. They're about $8 and are complete power kits (that look suspiciously like Moto cables... probably made in the same Malaysian factory.)

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:36 pm

Are you talking about the two pin trailer plug type power connectors? If you got a RV/Camper dealer or supply place around you have a look. I found some at a place that sells campers with everything from 18 to 8awg wire a foot or two foot long.

KitN1MCC · Post by **KitN1MCC** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:21 pm

also try a stink ohh i mean ham fest for the trailer style

kcbooboo · Post by **kcbooboo** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:00 pm

Tower Electronics (http://www.pl-259.com) sells 1ft long jumper cables in several wire sizes. You could use one of these and splice your own wire to it. They're certainly inexpensive enough. Look for them in their power cable section.

I've bought some 18ga short jumper cables from a truck parts place for about $1.50 each. They work well in repeaters to power up preamps, controllers, fans, and even MaxTrac receivers and 12w transmitters.

What we really need is a plastic or rubber shell and the male and female pins that go inside, with NO wire, that we can solder our own cable to, of any length. But I guess since the real part is molded, there's no easy way to get something that an end-user can assemble and utilize.

Bob M.

tvsjr · Post by **tvsjr** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:54 pm

Grumble... Tower has 16ga. and 10ga. 10ga. is too hard to work with... 16ga. is too small. Why doesn't anyone produce the damn things in 12/14?

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 7:50 pm

You can get seperate male and female bullet connectors and crimp and size wire you want to them and plug the two contacts together seperately but that's the best i know of. I haven't ever seen one of these plugs without a pigtail of wire.

JohnWayne · Post by **JohnWayne** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 7:52 pm

Kendoo makes a decent Motorola power cable. It's 14ga I think, and like 15' long complete with inline fuse holder. They can be had for <$10 usually.

Jeff

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:14 pm

I would have said to order one from Waltel.com, but well...

JohnWayne · Post by **JohnWayne** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:20 pm

No fear, I wasn't the only person selling them. You can buy them directly from Kendoo for $8 at http://www.kendoo.com/radio_data.asp?SKU=M-25

Jeff

aaronp · Post by **aaronp** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 6:31 am

Thanks for the kendo link, and all the other help.
I found out that they are called "bullet" connectors.