[FTC]: Anderson Powerpole Question

[FRC Team CC]

Chief Delphi,

We had a question regarding the Anderson Powerpole Connectors (used to replace the unreliable Tamiya connectors). After following the instructions provided in the FTC Wiring Guide, we found that the connectors came apart really easily, and could just be pulled apart without any effort.

Is this supposed to happen? If not, how can we solve the problem?

Thanks,
Charging Champions

[Foster]

When you say "come apart" do you mean that the pins pull out of the shell? That's an indication that you haven't pushed the pins into the shell far enough.

If you mean that the two ends that mate come apart it means the pins are not in the shell the right way. There is a curve to them that applies the mating surface pressure.

What size are you using?

[FRC Team CC]

We mean that the two ends that are supposed to connect to each other (e.g. the battery end and the charger end) do not click and can be pulled apart very easily.

Here is the link to the Powerpoles that we are using:

http://www.amazon.com/Anderson-Power...rson+Powerpole

How can we solve this problem? Is there some pin or clamping device that holds the two ends together?

Thanks,
Charging Champions

[Foster]

Originally Posted by Foster

When you say "come apart" do you mean that the pins pull out of the shell? That's an indication that you haven't pushed the pins into the shell far enough.

If you mean that the two ends that mate come apart it means the pins are not in the shell the right way. There is a curve to them that applies the mating surface pressure.

What size are you using?

I posted this on the 25th, no answer, can you make the connection up and try.

Also no sure on something as simple as Power Poles can drag this long on CD...

[Al Skierkiewicz]

FTC,
The connector pairs should mate with significant friction to hold them together, provided you do not have tension on the wires that will pull them apart. It is possible that you have bent contacts (as shown in the Powerwerx link above.) If the contacts are bent, (or are not free to move within the housing), the contacts will not mate properly. This occurs for two significant reasons. The first is using an improper crimper. This causes the terminal to be bent and will result in a lot of force needed during contact insertion. The second results from soldering the terminal which may result in excess solder causing the same type of misalignment as with improper crimping. While many crimpers will state they can crimp these contacts, only those specifically designed for APP contacts actually do the job.

[FRC Team CC]

Here are the pictures of the Anderson Powerpoles:

It looks like they are inserted correctly. When they are snapped onto another connector, we can hear the click, but they still come apart pretty easily.

[wgardner]

I don't see anything glaringly wrong with your pictures (though the way you're connecting red and black to each other is non-standard). And you're putting the wires in both ends, then connecting both ends, and hearing the click? If that's what you're doing, I don't know what else could be wrong. Are there any local teams you could work with in person?

I've attached a few (poor) photos of some of the powerpoles on one of our robots for comparison.

[FRC Team CC]

Wgardner: Thanks for all of your help.

The Powerpole stay together, but are very loosely connected and can be pulled apart with minimal effort. Looks like we might have to use the forks to keep them together.

Thanks,
Charging Champions

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by FTC Team CC

Wgardner: Thanks for all of your help.

The Powerpole stay together, but are very loosely connected and can be pulled apart with minimal effort. Looks like we might have to use the forks to keep them together.

Thanks,
Charging Champions

If they don't stay together without additional help, they may not be making good electrical contact, either. Here is a document from the ham radio community that has a bit more detail, including the standard configuration of red-black pairs. The standard mnemonic is "Red Right Tongue Top". With the wires toward you, and the dovetail "tongues" on top, red will be on your right. The pictures shown in the ham doc and in the post by wgardner above are taken from the contact side, so red is on the left when the tongues are on top.

[Foster]

+1

K3FXS here and I've used the above PDF on building my cables. They stick together and they stay together. I'm not sure what you are doing that makes them easy to pull apart. I've had radios suspended by the power pole and they have not fallen.

[FRC Team CC]

Thanks for all of your help. We will post on this thread when we are able to fix the issue.

Thanks,
Charging Champions

[Chinske4296]

They come with two pronged inserts to hold the plugs together... The slide in and as long as those stay in there is no way that the plugs can come undone.

[Chinske4296]

Here's an image of what I am talking about.

[cadandcookies]

One of the other ways you can minimize disconnections is by securing your wiring using zip ties-- if you immobilize the wire on both sides of the connection, I've never seen the small powerpole connectors disconnect. If you're using them as a battery connection and securely fastening your battery (which you should be), you shouldn't encounter any significant issues. Treat your electronics nicely and they will treat you nicely back!

[FRC Team CC]

Thanks to all for responding.

Chinske4296: We didn't receive those parts with our Anderson PowerPole kit. Can we buy them separately online?

Thanks,
Charging Champions