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Post Info TOPIC: What is an Anderson plug please?
patrolst


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RE: What is an Anderson plug please?
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 This is an Anderson Plug, theycome in varying amperages.



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patrolst


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 This is an Anderson Plug, theycome in varying amperages.



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jimricho


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Anderson plug.jpg

As pointed out these plugs are very robust, they handle the currents drawn by 3 way fridges and 12v-12v battery chargers. They are hermaphrodites which makes them very versatile.

(use of Jaycar image is acknowledged)



-- Edited by jimricho on Friday 8th of February 2013 09:03:00 PM

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neilnruth


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No, I'm not blonde. Just wondering why everyone gets excited about having an Anderson plug. My husband would probably know but he is not here to ask. Why is it more special than other plugs? What does it do?



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NeilnRuth
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Now this will sound silly to start with but with an Anderson plug both ends are identical, but the design allows them to lock together to produce a very good contact between two cables.

The main advantage is they will take a large amperage. I think they can take 50 amps or 100 amps depending on the model. Great for sending power from say your tug to an electric winch on a boat trailer..There are even water resistant covers for them now which helps with a permanent installation on your A frame for instance.

Advantage when buying you don't have to look for the male and female version they are the same.



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neilnruth


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Thank you. I will have to go and find one to see for myself.

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NeilnRuth
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http://www.batteriesdirect.com.au/shop/search/775/anderson-plugs.html?gclid=CPTW19uuprUCFYQhpQod738A0w


Hope this will help you

Regards John

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Dougwe


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Hi Ruth, I have just done all my Avan rewire with Anderson Plugs and they work like a charm. Mr Anderson sure did invent a great little plastic gizmo for sure, and I tell you that for free :)

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Happywanderer


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Cruising Cruze wrote:

www.batteriesdirect.com.au/shop/search/775/anderson-plugs.html?gclid=CPTW19uuprUCFYQhpQod738A0w




Hope this will help you

Regards John

 John I'm off to have a look too. Just fixed your link.



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Happywanderer


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This will be the next thing on my list after I get a new battery next week. Thinking of getting it attached to the outside wall like yeoeleven has to go between the solar panels and house battery.

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jimricho


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Happywanderer wrote:

This will be the next thing on my list after I get a new battery next week. Thinking of getting it attached to the outside wall like yeoeleven has to go between the solar panels and house battery.

 That's the set-up I have on my rig and it works out well.



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wasn_me


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The contacts in the anderson plug are self cleaning when you connect them. Another plus.

Cheers Pete



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justcruisin01


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If you solder the wire to the terminals rather than crimping then the plug can be resused much easier if the case arises.

JC.



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PeterD


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wasn_me wrote:

The contacts in the anderson plug are self cleaning when you connect them. Another plus.

 Most plug/sockets have a self cleaning action. The only ones that don't are those troublesome cigarette lighter ones.



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hako


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PeterD wrote:
wasn_me wrote:

The contacts in the anderson plug are self cleaning when you connect them. Another plus.

 Most plug/sockets have a self cleaning action. The only ones that don't are those troublesome cigarette lighter ones.

 

I recently bought on Ebay a marine style cigarette lighter socket and plug - when inserting the plug you rotate it 1/3 of a turn which wipes the (-) outer connecting surface and also the (+) inner tip which is on a slide so it cannot rotate in the plug. This gives it proper self cleaning properties and also locks the plug in the socket so it cannot be inadvertantly removed.  Still has the problem that it cannot carry much of an electrical load.



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jimricho


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hako wrote:
PeterD wrote:
wasn_me wrote:

The contacts in the anderson plug are self cleaning when you connect them. Another plus.

 Most plug/sockets have a self cleaning action. The only ones that don't are those troublesome cigarette lighter ones.

 

I recently bought on Ebay a marine style cigarette lighter socket and plug - when inserting the plug you rotate it 1/3 of a turn which wipes the (-) outer connecting surface and also the (+) inner tip which is on a slide so it cannot rotate in the plug. This gives it proper self cleaning properties and also locks the plug in the socket so it cannot be inadvertantly removed.  Still has the problem that it cannot carry much of an electrical load.

 I have the same set-up but I still get problems with them from time to time. For my Bushman fridge (and other uses) I use the old fashion Clipsal two pin polarised plugs, ie, the ones that look like ordinary three pin power plugs but have two pins arranged like a T instead. These are rated at a realistic 15 amps.

Anderson plugs are the way to go where higher currents are involved and a robust connector is preferred.



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jimricho


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justcruisin01 wrote:

If you solder the wire to the terminals rather than crimping then the plug can be resused much easier if the case arises.

JC.

 I do likewise and for the same reason.

I have a little jig made up to hold the contacts while soldering them to stop the solder running down the outside. It's just a small bit of wood with a couple of appropriate size holes drilled in it.

Jim.

PS: Crimping them can be a bit "iffy" unless you have the right crimping tool for the job.



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justcruisin01


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jimricho wrote:

 

 I use the old fashion Clipsal two pin polarised plugs, ie, the ones that look like ordinary three pin power plugs but have two pins arranged like a T instead. These are rated at a realistic 15 amps.

Anderson plugs are the way to go where higher currents are involved and a robust connector is preferred.

 Totally agree, I have many of these fitted to fridges/ freezer/ solar/ shower system/lights. Never had a failure.

Andersons for the heavy loads.

JC.



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Loki


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A friend with interests in ham radio put me onto a type of Anderson plug that is much smaller and easier to plug/unplug. It is shown on an extension cord IMG_4538A.JPGin the attached photo with the more typical Anderson plug for comparison. As I have a HiAce poptop, I only need internal connections and use the smaller ones for, Eg portable solar panels, inverter, battery charger etc: They will take up to 45A. HOWEVER, I would definitely use the larger type plug to connect a towing vehicle to a trailer - they are a much stronger connection therefore not prone to pulling apart easily. Hope this helps.



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hako


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 I have the same set-up but I still get problems with them from time to time.

 

Not what I wanted to hear as I thought they might be 'almost' as good as an Anderson plug.  I'll restrict it's use to the TV.

Thanks.



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jimricho


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The smaller Anderson style plugs shown in Loki's post are readily available from Jaycar.

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beiffe


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You can get them on ebay also but be sure you get the genuine. Look in the photo and make sure you see the wording on the plug. Don't fall for the anderson style bit, they are not the same (almost but I don't believe as good)

This one is genuine
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/10-x-GENUINE-Anderson-plug-Connectors-SB50-50amp-Bulk-/220805494050?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3369087522
$28.50 for 10 delivered

This one is not
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12-x-ANDERSON-STYLE-50-AMP-PLUG-CONNECTORS-JOINER-12V-/230592101289?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35b05c3ba9
$26 for 12 delivered

You can buy separately this is to demonstrate the difference of the plugs and the price only

Some suppliers sell the plugs separately as well

Regards
brian

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Sheba


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This one is genuine
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/10-x-GENUINE-Anderson-plug-Connectors-SB50-50amp-Bulk-/220805494050?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3369087522
$28.50 for 10 delivered

This one is not
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12-x-ANDERSON-STYLE-50-AMP-PLUG-CONNECTORS-JOINER-12V-/230592101289?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35b05c3ba9

$26 for 12 delivered



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neilnruth


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Wow! Thanks all for your great information. Sorry I haven't been back on - got called away to a family emergency. Maybe I needed an Anderson plug for that!

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NeilnRuth
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beiffe wrote:

You can get them on ebay also but be sure you get the genuine. Look in the photo and make sure you see the wording on the plug. Don't fall for the anderson style bit, they are not the same (almost but I don't believe as good)

This one is genuine
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/10-x-GENUINE-Anderson-plug-Connectors-SB50-50amp-Bulk-/220805494050?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3369087522
$28.50 for 10 delivered

This one is not
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12-x-ANDERSON-STYLE-50-AMP-PLUG-CONNECTORS-JOINER-12V-/230592101289?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35b05c3ba9
$26 for 12 delivered

You can buy separately this is to demonstrate the difference of the plugs and the price only

Some suppliers sell the plugs separately as well

Regards
brian

 I've seen these at the Caravan and Camping show in Newcastle last weekend, and I think they were around $15.00 each, but can't be sure on the price. Shows what happens when you buy fake ones.

Fake Anderson Plugs



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Mr B2


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If the joins are all permanent, Would soldering all joins be better than Anderson or MC4 Plugs,

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03_troopy


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As long as you know how to solder properly, and the joint is permanent, a soldered joint is probably the best way to go. Cover joints with Dual Wall Heatshrink (Glue Lined) and it will be waterproof too. Make sure the joint is supported by loom clamps (P clips) or is securely anchored to an existing wiring harness and you won't have any problems with vibrations causing the joint to fracture at the point where the solder has saturated the wire and where the wire is still is free of solder.

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bruceg


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Anderson Plug Functionality
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Anderson Plugs have several great properties -

High Voltage - they are all rated for at least 100 volts (Direct current), so 12 or 24 volts won't ever be a problem.

High Current - the common 35 x 60 x 12mm ones are rated 50 amps at 12V.  The next size up is 100 amp!

Self Wiping Contacts - the angle that the electrodes are at and their chisel shaped front ends ensure a clean, firm contact every time.

Self Locking Contacts - the step down shape behind the chisel point requires several kg of force to overcome to pull 2 plugs apart.

Polarity Protection - the stepped front end prevents plugging together the wrong way, the positive can only connect to positive & the negative can only connect to negative.

Usage/Circuit Protection - different notches in the front ends prevent mating of different coloured plugs.


Of course common sense also needs to be applied to get the full advantage from them -

Wire Sizes need to be adequate for the purpose.

Fuses should be fitted to protect BOTH ends of each connection.

Soldering is better than crimping alone.

Water/Dust Proofing is a good idea.

Solid Mounting and/or fitting of handles is smart.

Consistent Colour Usage is essential - always Red for direct to/from a battery, always Grey for only when a power source is operating (or at sufficient level), other colours as appropriate.

 

 



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Halfwaythere


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What is an Anderson plug please?
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I was going to ask this question. I've read all the posts, and they may as well be written in Aramaic.

Simple question. Do I need one?

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Mike Harding


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Halfwaythere wrote:

 Simple question. Do I need one?

Not unless you already have one :)



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