Joe, I have been using PowerPoles on all robots since 2006. I really like being able to replace motors quickly, and to insert a motor test circuit easily -- the latter has helped frequently when trying to diagnose problems by isolating the issue to either the powertrain or the control system.
However, it might be even easier to get the same benefits by using Lever Nuts (AM-
2575 and similar). Their rating is 32A, compared with 45A for the PowerPoles; however, I am not sure the de-rating practices followed to arrive at those figures were the same.
[Any help here, Big Al?]
Just thinking about failure modes, the Lever Nuts appear to have an advantage. Getting reliable crimps with Power Pole contacts is not nearly as straightforward as I would like it to be, although with practice many students learn to do it well.
__________________
Richard Wallace
Mentor since 2011 for FRC 3620 Average Joes (St. Joseph, Michigan)
Mentor 2002-10 for FRC 931 Perpetual Chaos (St. Louis, Missouri)
since 2003
I believe in intuition and inspiration. Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution. It is, strictly speaking, a real factor in scientific research.
(Cosmic Religion : With Other Opinions and Aphorisms (1931) by Albert Einstein, p. 97)