[DFTF] Anderson Powerpole Connectors...

[chi-town-biker]

Originally Posted by JesseK

Other than the zip-tie method, does anyone know of a way to perma-mount a mini-anderson pair?

These clamps work great with the powerpoles. They give a secure mounting point and ensure the plugs never come apart due to vibration. There's a tab on the back, we just cut it off and bolt the clamps flat on the electrical board.

http://www.powerwerx.com/powerpole-a...mp-2-sets.html

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by JesseK

...we used the big ones this year because (from what I've discerned in conversations) they have permanent mount holes built into them, whereas the mini andersons do not. Other than the zip-tie method, does anyone know of a way to perma-mount a mini-anderson pair?

When you slide the connector housings together, there's a small hole that appears between them. I think it's intended for a pin to keep them from sliding apart again. On our cleanest and most modular control box, we put a small bolt (M3 might have been too large) through the hole to mount the connectors.

[TD78]

We use these clips in those holes. They work very well.

[Steven Sigley]

The chassis mount for powerpoles featured here:
http://www.powerwerx.com/powerpole-a...nt-4-sets.html
and
http://www.powerwerx.com/powerpole-a...ch-4-sets.html

Are a DREAM. I used them in 2009, and its a great feeling to disconnect 4 motors at once. I imagine making a box one day with 2 or 3 of these and a good cable management system for any sensor inputs would make a removable electronics box so easy.

[AlexH]

I personally love powerpoles.

One thing I do is after I crim them I add a dab of solder so the wires dont fall out.

[andreboos]

Originally Posted by jeremypg399

What's the mcmaster part number?

8026K9 for 45A kits.

[Steven Sigley]

Originally Posted by DavidGitz

Crimp Tool: http://www.westmountainradio.com/pro...ts_id=PWRcrimp

We followed the instructions as best as we could from Powerwerx, Westmountain and on here but all of the connections we made were very loose, i.e. after crimping the terminal on the wire and then inserting into the connector very little force was required to pull out the connector. We spent quite a bit of time trying to get this figured out, including talking to Powerwerx Tech Support (who admonished us for not using their Crimping Tool) to no avail.

Yeah as much as i dont like the idea of a special crimper, it works like magic.
We tried to go the first year without buying the crimper and it was the biggest hassle ever. To anyone thinking about getting started with powerpoles, DO NOT BE CHEAP, buy the crimper, it's worth the money saving the time and frustration and failed crimps. Get the crimper and use it and then making anderson connectors is the easiest thing ever.
Don't make the same mistake i did, you'll regret it

[andreboos]

Originally Posted by JesseK

We've also moved away from using clustered blocks of mini-andersons to connect parts of the robot -- everything is generally fine until a single motor in the block has to be replaced, at which point that one pair of connectors has to be pried out of the block. This wreaked havoc on us in 2008.

Maybe you got a plastic-welded set, which some retailers sell; the standard individual modular connectors are very easy to separate by hand.

[JesseK]

Originally Posted by andreboos

Maybe you got a plastic-welded set, which some retailers sell; the standard individual modular connectors are very easy to separate by hand.

I'm not sure what you mean by "plastic-welded" set. Each connector contains 1 wire. We use the friction-fit shapes to put a red & black together. Getting them apart takes a pair of needle nose pliers about half the time.

[Bill_B]

Has any of our Ansel Adams wannabes here on CD taken some close-up, high resolution shots of good, bad, and ugly crimps? It's one thing to give a description or a tug-test mention and quite another to claim that a specific crimper is doing or not doing the job. I've got a crimper that I've used for nearly 50 years. It puts a dimple into the connector such that Herculean effort is required to break the result. Most tested times, the wire breaks and there are still crimped strands inside the connector. I may just make a gallery of crimps and the tools that made them, unless someone beats me to it.

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by Steven Sigley

Yeah as much as i dont like the idea of a special crimper, it works like magic.
We tried to go the first year without buying the crimper and it was the biggest hassle ever. To anyone thinking about getting started with powerpoles, DO NOT BE CHEAP, buy the crimper, it's worth the money saving the time and frustration and failed crimps. Get the crimper and use it and then making anderson connectors is the easiest thing ever.
Don't make the same mistake i did, you'll regret it

This cannot be stressed enough.
Buy the correct crimpers and not only will it be easier to crimp, it'll be dependable.

Our team went to making just about every electrical/control system component with connectors. This allows for easy assemble/disassemble when necessary.

[Bill_B]

Originally Posted by JesseK

However, we used the big ones this year because (from what I've discerned in conversations) they have permanent mount holes built into them, whereas the mini andersons do not. Other than the zip-tie method, does anyone know of a way to perma-mount a mini-anderson pair?

There are several ways to mount powerpoles. One way is to use this mounting clamp set. Another uses things called mounting wings. Be sure to check the pictures on that site. They mention using in pairs, but I could see a string of connectors that goes, wing-pole-pole-wing-pole-pole-wing-pole-pole-wing for as many pairs as you need.

Not mentioned so far, is the "polarity" standard for PPoles. Viz., looking at the tongues of the cases, the black belongs on the right, and colored (red, yellow, blue, white etc.) on the left of the pair. You should resist the temptation to adjust wiring or programming errors by reversing the color sequences except very briefly for experimental reasons. One of the good things about powerpoles is always hitching matching colors together. You should be able to avoid hitching your drive motor to the elevator spike by using distinct colors for each connection you have. Don't depend on "it won't reach" as your connection strategy.

One more good thing is the ability to make extension cables using the 14ga. zip wire. (there goes "it won't reach!") You might not even have to get your removable control board all the way into its fighting position just to try out a simple program change by extending the connections involved in your test.

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by AlexH

I personally love powerpoles.

One thing I do is after I crim them I add a dab of solder so the wires dont fall out.

When properly crimped (powerpoles or anything), the wires should never fall out.

[AlexH]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

When properly crimped (powerpoles or anything), the wires should never fall out.

Soldering them gives a nice sense of security...