I use Anderson PowerPole connectors for almost all my 12 and 24 VDC power connections. Cables are easy to make. DIY or commercial "power strip" configurations are available, either "X" shaped, or "W" shaped, or in 1xN or 2xN rows.
Sometimes it's useful to provide backup power to an instrument. This can be accomplished using a pair of low forward voltage (Schottky) diodes in a "Y" arrangement. It allows the instrument to be seamlessly powered from either source. You can swap power supplies in and out at any time. If one of them is a battery it's then easy to move the instrument without disruption. Even if you plan a single power supply only, having an idle diode-OR permanently in place allows for a second or temporary power source at any time later on.
For this diode-in-line application I choose SB560 axial Schottky diodes. These have roughly half the voltage drop of a regular silicon diode, work up to 5A, and will handle 12, 24, and 48 VDC.
