[aprssig] Re: power poles (oh noooo)

[Steve Dimse]

On Dec 31, 2006, at 8:43 PM, Dale Blanchard wrote:

> power poles can not cause a fire.
> something else has to be involved.

Yes, electricity. A corroded connection will have a non-zero  
resistance. As current flows through it, the resistance causes the  
generation of heat. Enough heat can cause plastic insulation to catch  
fire.

> Mine get wet all the time on my motorcycle.

There is a huge difference between fresh and saltwater. Until you  
have tried to maintain electronics on a boat kept in the ocean you  
cannot begin to appreciate the corrosiveness of saltwater.

I have no idea if PowerPoles are more or less likely to succumb to  
corrosion and fire than other connectors, but I have no doubt it  
could happen.

Steve K4HG