[sanddrag]

I know Deans connectors are popular in the RC hobby, but I'm not a fan of them. Here's my reasons:

1 - As far as I know, they are not recognized as an industrial connector outside of the hobby market
2 - The require both a male and a female side
3 - The male side has exposed contacts, that can easily be shorted
4 - The attachment points for the wires provide no mechanical connection other than soldering, and are very close together. There is no housing, and thus, heat shrink, which can easily be punctured from a sharp solder blob, is all that's keeping you from a short.
5 - They cannot be combined into a larger connector block
6 - As far as I know, there is no positive locking mechanism. It is a friction fit.

As for current ratings, I speculate the Anderson PowerPole contacts can handle a lot more current than they are rated for.

I'm very interested to know what you did to melt a powerpole. On dozens I've installed, I have never had this happen, and never heard of it before.