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| Reviews Summary for Anderson Powerpoles |
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Reviews: 121
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Average rating: 3.8/5
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MSRP: $varies
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Description: Anderson PowerPoles are the ultimate wiring connectors you can use in your ham shack. Once you try them, you'll never use anything else for everything from battery connectivity to removable master power links.
PowerPole Features:
Flat wiping contact system
Interchangeable Genderless design
Colored, Modular housings
Polarized housings
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More info: http://www.powerwerx.com
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K3CN
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 13, 2008 18:21
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Works great here
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have used Anderson Powerpoles for five years now with no problems. Whenever I purchase a new rig the first thing I do is assemble powerpoles. I first crimp using the crimping tool and then solder them. Then I give them the firm tug test. If they pass then I am done. On some stubborn cables I use needle nose pliers to get them to click in. I use them with all equipment in the shack. Keeps things well organized and simple. I float a battery in parallel for emergency backup also equipped with powerpoles connected to the Rig Runner. I can't imagine operating without these.
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K1YPB
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 13, 2008 16:34
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Work Great for Me
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I use them and find them to work perfectly as advertised. The key to success with these connectors is to properly assemble them. I solder mine rather than crimp. Every connector I have assembled works well, and has really simplified the connection system of my 12 volt radios and equipment. For me they were worth the investment.
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N4BFD
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Rating: 1/5
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Oct 13, 2008 14:35
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Garbage.
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I can't believe these things are some sort of A.R.E.S. standard. What a joke, the standard T connector that comes on most VHF/UHF radios is ten times better... and guess what, it is probably already on your rig!
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K5NT
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 10, 2008 07:44
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A Great Product
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I just completed converting my home station over to battery power using the West Mountain Radio 4012. I had no problem installing the connectors, using the crimper sold by West Mountain. Since tolerances inside the plastic housings are small, I would hesitate to use the solder method of installation. All connections are tight and secure. If I were using them in an evironment where vibration was present, as in a mobile installation, I would take the extra step of securing the attachments somehow. Several methods have been described, and Anderson makes an inexpensive clip for the purpose.
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WQ0A
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 7, 2008 08:06
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Miles of use
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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It seems amazing how many different experiences these connectors bring.
Our club uses them for everything, new rigs and old. I have them set them up for every mobile application with well over 150,000 miles of use and and always find snug connectors. I don't use any means of securing them and they stay rock solid. That has been in HF as well as VHF/UHF applications.
I build up a harness in my vehicles as well as the shack with plenty of connectors ready to use. They have been reliable and cost effective. Gone are the days of incompatible DC connectors. If someone brings a rig to me I can plug it in and go.
I was disappointed with a cheaper crimping tool and found inconsistent results. The best installation for me has been to solder the contacts to the cable. A little practice goes a long way. New contacts are available at a cheap price for practice or connector re-use.
All I can say is try them first. If you like them as we do they will become a permanent part of your DC power applications.
Mike, WQ0A
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WO8USA
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Rating: 0/5
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Sep 7, 2008 05:57
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Awful
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I used these connector, properly installed, and they are a step backwards. I have to tape mine together which takes away the usability and quick disconnect. I think they ae only used becasue the public service people have nothing else and its easy for power supply. So we tolerate the connectors.
Use anything else that's safe, you'll be happier.
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K6JPA
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Rating: 2/5
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Sep 6, 2008 18:08
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Unfortunate
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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In my opinion, it's unfortunate that these things have become any kind of "standard" at all. Poorly designed, and as others have mentioned, pull apart much too easily... and yes, they are properly crimped. I want a reliable connection for my equipment, and no, I'm sorry, but a secondary "zip tie" arrangement is not a satisfactory solution.
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AD5TD
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Rating: 2/5
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Sep 5, 2008 21:29
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Meh....
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I'm glad that I'm not the only one that thinks these things aren't the "end all/be all" for electrical connections. I have had the same experiences that AE5EH did and I have never been in avionics or anything like that.
They just don't hold in any kind of mobile/portable situation. Let's face it, if you must tape or roll pin them together so they don't come apart, you might as well use something else.
They are fine for the shack, but I would never use them in the field.
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K6IHC
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Rating: 4/5
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Sep 5, 2008 17:00
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OK for most amateur uses
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Not aerospace-grade, but they've worked quite well for the equipment I've used them on. I actually think that the easy-to-disconnect feature is good, if you have a plug that needs to be frequently connected/disconnected. For mobile/high-vibration applications, these clips:
http://www.powerwerx.com/product.asp?ProdID=35736&CtgID=1679
should work ok.
For some reason, my mobile application connections haven't had any problems coming apart, even though I haven't used the clips. Maybe it's my assembly technique?
I still use Molex connectors (20 amp polarized, w/ twin round pins) for some of my mobile equipment.
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AE5EH
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Rating: 2/5
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Sep 5, 2008 16:13
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Sorry, cheap is just that!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Just aren't that good. Sorry, I'm used to, and use better quality. It does exist, and not that much more expensive. Long before I decided to dabble in ham radio, I spent many years repairing, servicing avionics on the bench and installing it in numerous fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. No, not the space shuttle, SR71, or anything like that. If you have done the type of work I've described, then perhaps you know what I'm getting at. It's really no big deal at all. If not, then you probably don't have a clue.
Any electrical/mechanical junction that is meant to be taken apart, and put back together should have enough friction and mechanical interference in the connection, and simple integral mechanical locking device to ensure that it stays snug and cannot be pulled apart easily. If you need to install a separate locking device in addition, or "ty-rap" it to make sure that it doesn't come back apart easily, that's a bad design. Even properly assembled, the powerpoles are not that good. But, if you have nothing else to compare them to and/or have not experienced the use of anything better, they may be wonderful to you.
There is nothing immature about telling the truth, but if you do not have the experience to realize it, then...oh well.
That folks are willing to let something like this be pushed on them as some kind of a standard is laughable and sad. The fact that many would defend them as having some reasonable quality doesn't say much.
It just seems rather odd, and somewhat silly that some would take an amateur science such as the use and proliferation of multiband/multimode 2 way radio, and its petty little acessories so seriously.
One mans junk, may be another man's treasure, so do enjoy what you want, as its your money and your time.
Take care,
Terry-AE5EH
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