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-   -   Unsafely securing Anderson connector? (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19127)

Al Skierkiewicz 15-03-2003 15:11

I have noted that some teams continue to use alligator clips to connect the battery to the charger. I think that there is the potential for connector damage with that practice. It scratches and deforms the contact surface. I recommend that a mating connector be attached to the charger to allow a secure and insulated method of charging.

Andrew 15-03-2003 15:22

Quote:

I have noted that some teams continue to use alligator clips to connect the battery to the charger. I think that there is the potential for connector damage with that practice. It scratches and deforms the contact surface. I recommend that a mating connector be attached to the charger to allow a secure and insulated method of charging.
Although I agree with you, I thought that FIRST put in a rule this year that you could not modify the battery charger.

We use a mating connector with leads and then alligator clip to those leads. We should probably at least secure that more firmly with electrical tape or something.

Cory 15-03-2003 15:31

Quote:

Originally posted by Al Skierkiewicz
I have noted that some teams continue to use alligator clips to connect the battery to the charger. I think that there is the potential for connector damage with that practice. It scratches and deforms the contact surface. I recommend that a mating connector be attached to the charger to allow a secure and insulated method of charging.
One of our chargers with two alligator clips constantly touches the other, causing them to arc, and subsequently destroying one battery connector. We have been attaching one clip to the base of one lead, and one clip to the connector of the other lead, which is not ideal, but has solved the problem.

Cory

Rickertsen2 31-03-2003 17:21

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave Flowerday
Wildstang hasn't used those connectors in years. We have a chart hanging in our shop that someone made a while back that graphs the losses through a few different connectors, and the loss in those red connectors in the kit are unbelieveable! We instead use Powerlock connectors which have much, much lower loss and are otherwise very similar. I believe they're also rated for more amps, but I could be wrong on that.

We've also never had a problem with the powerlocks coming apart. We don't use zipties or velcro or anything like that. I'd recommend them to anyone who's having problems with the kit provided type.

Exactly how bad is the loss? Also where can we get these powerlock connectors you speak of? What about using the Blue Anderson connectors? Our connector from the kit heats tremendously, and has started to develope much reluctance to mate. It looks like there has been some arcing when i examine the contacts.

Al Skierkiewicz 01-04-2003 00:52

If you check the Anderson Power Products website you should be able to find a dealer in your area. The connectors we use are single contact, modular connectors that can be assembled into a dual connector. As with the smaller connectors (25 amp) these connectors are also non-polarized so they mate with each other. (There is no male or female pins) The contacts that we use for the battery are rated at 100 amps.
I don't want anyone to assume from this discussion that the battery connectors provided in the kit are sub standard, they are not! They are conservatively rated at 65 amps, I believe. As I have said on many occasions, if you are drawing enough current to melt this connector, then you have other problems. We chose to use a different connector to eliminate problems with a previous robot. We have just continued to use them because it is convenient to use the old batteries for practice.

Andy144 16-04-2003 22:11

Back to the zipties
 
At UFC the announcer was consistently reminding everyone to zip tie their connections as peoples kept on pulling away from each other after getting hit. We used zip ties and they worked very well we didn't have any problems with them.


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