Why Are Anderson Powerpoles So Good

#HamRadioTV #HamRadio #AmateurRadio #AndersonPowerpoles
Fiori Films Presents Ham Radio TV: Why are Anderson Powerpoles so Good
In this video Bruce N6THN, will present Anderson Powerpoles
These connectors are suitable for just about all 12 volt applications. There are 3 sizes available with current ratings from 15 to 45 amps. Connectors of all three sizes are compatible with each other. That is, the 15 amp connector will mate with either the 30 amp or 45 amp connectors, because they all use the same physical housings and contact design. The different current ratings are due to the different wire sizes which can be accommodated by the crimp-on contact. (There are also higher ampere-rated Powerpole connectors available but they use different sized housings and are not compatible with the 15 to 45 amp connectors).
Powerpoles have several unique features that make them ideal for radio equipment power connectors:
Powerpoles are "unisex" connectors. That is, there are no male/female pairs. One connector will naturally mate with another of the same type. This means that you don't need to buy two different types of connectors for each job. It also makes it easier to make "adapters" to other connector types since you don't need to adapt to both a male pair and a female pair. I have adapters in my kit that adapt Powerpoles to Jones connectors, banana connectors, phone-plug type power connectors, molex connectors, etc.
Powerpole connectors are polarized. If properly assembled (see figure below), it is not possible to connect them up backwards thereby reversing the polarity.

[@darkijah-andersjehovahsn7893]

Near Everything is now Anderson Powerpoles.... Love them.

[@gnormhurst]

BTW, most connectors (that we still use) have wiping contacts. The remarkable outlier is the cigarette lighter with its little button. Car manufacturers should include Powerpoles. I'm sure you could make a cigarette lighter/powerpole connector.

[@anthonymarino4260]

great job

[@usopenplayer]

Very clear and thorough! Thanks for sharing.

[@HamRadioTV]

Thank You! I'm glad you like it. I will pass this onto Bruce the presenter.

[@bobwendoloski6970]

I wish I knew about this earlier, they really clean up my ham shack DC wires.

[@HamRadioTV]

Yes, these connectors are so cool. After this presentation everyone in the club has been putting them on their radios and it works out great when we do summer and winter Field Days.

[@bobwendoloski6970]

@@HamRadioTV I put them on every radio I own. I have seen people using them on linked dipoles as well, another creative use .

[@ChaplainDaveSparks]

Those of us who have wired AC electrical circuits (according to the _National Electrical Code)_ semi-cringe at seeing the way the ampacities and AWGs are matched up. For example, if I were wiring a 30 amp circuit, #10 AWG would be my go-to, but I'd have to use a 45 amp PowerPole. Yes, I get that if you're using silicone insulated wire, you can run it a little hotter, especially with shorter lengths, but just sayin' ... Also, I have some bad experiences with PowerPoles not staying connected. Maybe it was because I was buying ChiCom knockoffs from eBay. 😀 73 de AF6AS

[@patrickslevin6424]

Anyone have trouble with the clips not seating in the housing? I've run across a lot of red & black housings that won't mate up to my crimped clips......lots of slop and an eventual short, melting the housing.

[@HamRadioTV]

I've noticed not all Power poles have the same quality. I now by them from a Ham store or directly from Powerwerx.com

[@anthonymarino4260]

@@HamRadioTV finding this out. to powerwerx. now on Chinese stuff. not good

[@darkijah-andersjehovahsn7893]

Yea, where do I start, I was thinking of 45A yet... 75A would give more for space for 2 6mm2... But I think I can do with 45A small plugs. But I want the original and best crimper and the plastic cover thing as well.

[@darkijah-andersjehovahsn7893]

I was very surprised how small they are... I wonder if I should have gotten the 75A version. But anyway now I am trying the 15, 30, 45A out at the moment. But overall they do seem to be pretty good, I was amazed but then I hit into a problem with a mm2 cable as cable could not be inserted as it was double capped and apparently that was to much for the housing in size. But beside that, it seems pretty good.

[@glenmartin2437]

Thank you. N0QFT

[@HamRadioTV]

👍

[@WaschyNumber1]

Where can I get this picture in the beginning, that I can look every time at the printed picture how to insert them. 🤔

[@mikemcdonald5147]

The majority of hams dont have to purchase these and have no need for these. These are only needed if you are in ARES and deploy somewhere. The reason for this is so like the military there will be a standard that everyone can use. If you go on deployment with an ARES group you can quick connect to a rig runner or pull out a radio and put in another radio and they all have the same easy to use quick connectors. They could have chosen anything but this is what they went with. Had they gone with something else people would complain why didn't they go with a b or c brand of connector. These are rc connectors and at my rc club most 80% of our members have these on their battery chargers and batteries so we can all interchange things quickly. Never needed a special tool to make power poles. Not sure why you would. I crimp and solder all mine and never use a special tool to create them. People have tripped over cables before and disconnected things or pulled radios off tables because of their lack of watching where they were going during field day or other places. If the plug pulls out no problem. Sometimes people have a bunch of radios and a west mountain rigunner and will accidentally pull out the wrong radio while its powered on. No one would do this on purpose. People worried about things that cost 35 cents when they have thousand dollar radios antennas cable etc shouldn't worry about the cheapest part of their kit. Things happen, people are stupid, life happens.

[@HamRadioTV]

I hear you. But, they are "fun" to install/use with your friends and local club when borrowing/testing equipment out. Yes, you don't need them...but it"s just a hobby, and people will do what they like.

[@AlGritzmacher]

You don't have to use these, but you DO have to use some kind of connector, so why not use the standard? What are you going to do, use wire nuts??? Yes, it's kind of arbitrary. They could have chosen any number of styles of connectors, but this was the one that ARES, RACES, and the ARRL settled on. They could have picked something like Molex, or AMP, but liked the genderless aspect of the Powerpoles. And, guess what? They all need a crimping tool. Prior to Powerpoles, the standard in emcomm use was the 2-pin Cinch-Jones connector. But that went the way of the dinosaur! BTW, Powerwerx did not invent Powerpoles, nor were they the first to sell them. They are made by a company called Anderson Power Products. It was difficult for Hams to buy them from that company in the wholesale quantities they required, so people would buy them in bulk and sell them to Hams in smaller quantities at Hamfests, long before West Mountain and Powerwerx came along. An alternative source was (and still is) Allied Electronics, or whatever they call themselves today.

[@darkijah-andersjehovahsn7893]

The Big 45 powerpole metal things don't look as shiny as the 15 and 30A - are there silver coating on those as well? In regards of size there might be other reasons to go 75A in regards of splitters.

[@darkijah-andersjehovahsn7893]

So... My trial box is pretty much empty now... And many things now have Anderson Powerpoles, I should probably have gotten the biggest package but well... That's how it is I guess. Don't understand those clued Anderson, why use those when there are those metal things for clinging them further together... If I ever need to pull them apart it is nice to have the option and yet, there is no way to see if they are one kind or the other in regards of puling them apart. Anyway.... Getting pretty good at working with the plugs :)

[@darkijah-andersjehovahsn7893]

Got the big package, although I like the smaller case better - but overall, I am near empty again. Love these plugs.

[@WaschyNumber1]

I have read they can hold up to 250 hot disconnections befor they are broken. 🤔

[@darkijah-andersjehovahsn7893]

how much does a 75A carry of cables???? Any different plugs like the 15/30/45 Amps using the same case.

[@henrys6099]

Great video. I wonder if I could plug powerpole to SB50 ?

[@WaschyNumber1]

Why not use xt60 Connectors 🤔

[@forgetyourlife]

23:00 minutes. comment from the peanut gallery was hilarious!

[@HamRadioTV]

Oh yeah, no short of comedians in the club.

[@Bdub1952]

Really a brilliant invention.

[@darkijah-andersjehovahsn7893]

Powerwerx have the original silver plated????

[@OH8STN]

The only reason anyone would use Anderson power poles is for interoperability. ARES, RACES, RAYNET, ... in actuality, it is not a very good connector! XT60 and XT90 are superior in load handling, don't require any special tools, are waterproof, and a better value. 73 Julian oh8stn

[@HamRadioTV]

OH8STN That’s a good idea. I recognize those from my RC car days. Is that what you will be switching too? I’ve seen a lot of Anderson Power Poles in your videos.

[@OH8STN]

@@HamRadioTV not any time soon. The ham radio community is weird about such things. Show something else in a video other than what's expected, the comments will all be arguments about the connectors (been there already).

[@darkijah-andersjehovahsn7893]

I don't get this insertion tool... anyone have some instructions?

[@ppi57]

Red on the right when looking at the front or from the insert end?

[@HamRadioTV]

😂👌

[@jaythomas3180]

Red on the Right from the Rear and the Ridge 😀

[@tglenn3121]

Sorry, but I got a major headache trying to feed 12 gauge stranded wire through the sleeve of the metal clasp. It's about like trying to slip a skirt onto a cactus plant. They're more trouble than they're worth.

[@HamRadioTV]

It can be tough at times. I sometimes will use the PP45 if I'm having trouble pushing the wire into the PP30. I've been putting them on everything and I have to tell you the convenience of them when setting stuff up and tearing it down when going portable while camping it great.

[@joeshmoe7899]

I use powerpole. I'm cool.

[@HamRadioTV]

Oh Yeah!!

[@nosaltiesandrooshere7488]

👍

[@HamRadioTV]

Thanks!

[@nosaltiesandrooshere7488]

@@HamRadioTV 👍 Servus Bruce N6THN! I saw these "Anderson plugs" for the first time in Australen, I did not know them before, because in Europe (yes, I am Austrian) they have not been common, now it is nice and slow in the off-road and outdoors Scene with it. The radio operators also used DIN or BNC connections. English is not my mother tongue, I speak English pretty well only with writing and grammar I stand on a war footing! That's just the "👍" to avoid text, because the "thumbs up" actually says it all, except I have questions about the video. Greetings from Austria, crocodiles and kangaroos are only available at the zoo!

[@rangersmith4652]

Silver oxidizes very quickly. And don't pretty much all connectors wipe upon disconnection?

[@WaschyNumber1]

Not if its pure silver

[@jay-rus4437]

You can NOT have “box after box after box”....his primary supply wire is nowhere near large enough to carry significant loads. I suppose if he was daisy chaining these together and was only powering a couple pieces of equipment at a time

[@HamRadioTV]

I agree and Bruce is also aware of voltage and current loses. It all depends what your trying to power.

[@darkijah-andersjehovahsn7893]

color coding for 10 gauge?....

[@twwtb]

Super conductor. Whaaa, Whaa. Too late you already told it. But it's a pretty good, nerdy joke.

[@HamRadioTV]

:) Thanks!

[@christophersmith1155]

cbers uss use the 350 because we run 16 pill amps at 4400kw

[@eugenritzinger7469]

I`m afraid they aren`t that good. Nachteile: 1. Fehler beim Montieren können nicht korrigiert werden, 2. Montage fieselig, so dass Kabel am Ende vorgeschädigt sind, 3. Einwegprodukt, gut für den Umsatz des Herstellers, schlecht für den Verbraucher.

[@timbookedtwo2375]

Anderson power poles are vastly overpriced. But I guess the company charges what the market witll bear. Good old American capitalism.

[@HamRadioTV]

Yeah, a RC car DC connector is cheaper. But, when you go to a Field Day, Powerpoles are everywhere. So it's just one of those things.

[@madalinbetea9871]

I use Wago much better , no special and expensive crimping tool