Any suggestions on the best place to buy Anderson PowerPole connectors? i need them in 12awg wire size.
Thanks
- Bochek
The Anderson Power Products come in smaller sizes and we have used the 35 and 45 amp connectors for many years. You can find them at Terminal Supply or West Mountain Radio. West Mountain also sells a great ratcheting crimper.
We got our last batch from Powerwerx.com. They also carry the 15 amp connectors. I also recommend the West Mountain crimper.
As a design engineer for Anderson, I can tell you there are a couple ways to buy our connectors. The first is our online store, at http://store.andersonpower.com/. You can also find a local distributor by clicking your region on this map.
The standard FRC battery connector is what we call the “SB 50”, which is our smallest multi-pole connector. Our part number 6331G2W (which says is for #10 contacts) will also accept a #12 wire.
If you’re looking for something smaller, the Powerpole line (which I think may be what you were asking about?) has 30 and 45 amp varieties, both of which can be ordered with a #12 contact.
If you want more information, we have catalogs and datasheetsavailable to browse. Hope this helps!
I’ve had great success buying them from Powerwerx. They have a lot of colors.
We have purchased these connectors from Helmar for the last two years and are very happy with the price and with the service. (these are the battery connectors… but they have others also.)
Do you guys use this crimper
http://www.westmountainradio.com/PWRcrimp.htm
to do your crimping on the battery terminals? Do you have to use one of the accessory dies or do you use the 45 pound setting?
thanks
R
Bob,
The 50 amp pins use a different crimper. However the battery plugs we get appear to be done on a machine. The contacts come on a reel.
Al,
You’re right - the KOP battery plug contacts are all machine crimped. There is a hand tool we sell designed specifically for those contacts, but it’s pretty pricey ($200+). Don’t know if there are any cheaper alternatives out there.
Say Jeff,
I’m wondering about something. I’ve heard that there are 2 different grades of housing for the powerpole line using the 15,30, and 45 amp terminals. One is supposed to have a tougher plastic housing supposedly.
Can you comment on that?
Thanks
Mike
I know I purchased them from McMaster (or a knock off of them) but I couldn’t find the part number when I went to their website.
Anybody else know if they still carry them?
Joe J.
McMaster still carries them.
They are on page 766.
Mike,
You may be thinking of the connector type. There are HD terminals that make a locking condition when mated rather than the simple wiping of the standard contacts. There is no difference in current handling just a much more robust connection. We have used the McMaster contacts in the past but are much happier with the Power Pole.
Fellow Canadians:
Please mention to them that you are using them on a FIRST robot!
Hi Al,
Well, no, I had heard from a fellow ham that there were different plastics, or perhaps a heavier wall in some of the housing that hold the 15-45 amp units. I was hoping since Jeff worked there he would know.
I’ve always been very happy with them since I started using the proper crimper. They are on every thing 12volt I own practically. Very handy.
73
Mike
KB0ozn
Since it sounds like several people here have experience with them… how do you secure them to your board/robot? We have several hooked together, and it seems like the mounting holes that are formed between two of them are sized for a size 2 screw, which isn’t in our normal stock. In fact, the smallest diameter we have easily available is a 4-40. I’m hesitant to use that, in case it breaches the housing wall and causes a short.
The other option we’re considering is a simple bracket to hold the connectors down. While it would be easy to make and work without a problem… it wouldn’t look as nice as using screws in the provided holes - and we’re working this year to have the cleanest, coolest, best looking electrical system yet. That reminds me… i need to take some teaser pictures tomorrow…
Powerwerx seems to have the best deal if your buying a lot. Buy the 30 amp sets that include both red and black. Then buy tons of contacts since you can reuse the housings. You can also get the SB-50 connectors for the batteries there.
Hi all,
Powerwerx is a good place to get them. You can also buy them from westmountainradio.com.
Get the crimper, it works well.
As far as the little hole goes, one can put a metal pin in there to keep the 2 halves from sliding apart, but most people don’t recommend it. If the pin falls out it can short things out and that is, well, BAD.
If you want to put something in there you can use a toothpick, or just do what I do. Since you always want the red and black to be a pair, and in the same order, just put a drop of super glue on the little dovetail channel, and quickly slide them together. They will never come apart unless you have much bigger problems. lol
This site, http://www.qsl.net/w2vtm/powerpole.html, has a great picture of how to do it, just DONT put the metal pin in like they show.
We just put them on the Jag’s as a pig tail and on the motor as a pig tail and then plug them together. It makes it great to be able to remove your whole electrical board with 4 screws and 5 connectors.
Great for taking it off while the mech team gets metal filings all over everything drilling holes and what not.
Take a look at the 2 places mentioned if you want to mount them in a bracket, they have them.
Good luck
Mike
I have a great place- I found them at a forklift company. They’re the cheapest I’ve seen, you can get them in multiple colours, and you can get all the wire you need too- crimps and otherwise- for what have been the lowest prices.
In fact, when they were sold out they called me up to talk about the order. That’s service.
Tell them you’re with FIRST- that won’t garner you a discount, but it might, with enough people ordering, get us all a discount come next year 