Question about Anderson PowerPoles

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Guys,
The temperature rise is over a specified period of time, for UL ratings that is 24 hours at continuous specified current. The 30 and 45 amp contacts are interchangeable on FRC robots, as other have pointed out, as they have the same contact area. Temperature rise is also a function of the size of wire that is crimped to the contact. #12 or #10 will draw away greater heat from the contact than #14 wire will.
In nearly 100% of the failed contacts I have examined, the excess heat was caused by a contact not being fully inserted in the housing, or a poor crimp on the wire. Anything that will increase the series resistance of the contact will increase the overall heat. This holds true for any style including the WAGOs on the PDP, the SB50 on the battery leads or the motor controllers and motors.
I did find one contact that had been used and abused repeatedly and that contact had worn through the housing due to the excessive movement of the wire and loose contact spring. It eventually made contact with the other conductor in the two block housing. The resulting short created the heat.