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Reviews For: Anderson Powerpoles

Category: DC Power Supply Distribution

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Review Summary For : Anderson Powerpoles
Reviews: 195MSRP: varies
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
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.powerwerx.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
1041953.7
AI0S Rating: 2011-02-26
Outstanding DC connectors Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Power-Poles (they used to be called Sermos connectors), are easy to wire with the correct die-style crimpers (NOT universal crimpers), and are very strong and reliable having high-cycle silver-plated flat wiping contacts and - they are genderless. It's no coincidence that ARES and RACES standardize on these and that they are increasingly used in industrial gear like forklifts plus RC enthusiast have used them for years. My crimpers "walked" and so for now I solder the things but that seems fine. After decades of fighting with cheap, marginal tin-plated connectors with very limited mating cycles these Power-Poles are a refreshing and welcome connector that WORKS - reliably. Personally, in my portable, fixed, RV/trailer, and mobile situations I depend on the things these days.
I have NO idea why the negative comments have been posted here. Speaking as an EE, if correctly assembled and used, there is absolutely NO technical or practical evidence for such a bad opinion. Quite the opposite actually.
W8EFM Rating: 2010-06-09
As good as any I say Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Not sure why all the controversy with these. I have installed a bunch of these using the Tri-Crimp. It was easy. The results were perfect, and they form a reasonably tight fit without any roll pins, glue or other gadgets. Some say other connector types fit tighter. These seem just about right to me. Tight enough that I don't believe they will come apart by accident. Could they be better? Of course, but you could say that about anything. Yes, they require a $35 crimp tool. Yes, they're a little pricey, but prices will come down with acceptance. They are at least as good as anything else I've used and I like the idea of finally having a 12 volt "standard". It's worth it to me to know that when I'm in the field I won't digging through my box for the "right" connector now that all my stuff uses the same system.
KD5RHR Rating: 2010-05-10
Use exclusively Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have on all radios, 12v accessories, and batteries, really makes it easy to move them around to mobile or Field Day. Easy (for me) to crimp install with $25 crimper, sometimes need a really small screwdriver to push the metal part home until it snaps. Forget those little barrels to keep the +/- together, stick a round toothpick in the hole and break it off.
NY4I Rating: 2010-04-20
Standard, Simple, and reliable--what more could you ask? Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I started using powerpoles in Utah before Powerwerx or West Mountain Radio existed (1998). We standardized on them to interchange our gear in ARES (actually in Utah they call them ares connectors). I was taught how to use them by a fellow ham and he taught me the right way to crimp them. I have NEVER had a radio shut off because the powerpole disconnected. If you do, you did not put the pins on right. With the right amount of friction, they always hold. Note that if you look at the battery connection for an APC UPS, or the back of a Harris phone switch, you will see powerpoles are used. This is no gimmick for the unwashed masses of hams that don't know how to crimp a connector. If you do have a high-vibration application, Anderson makes housings that allow inline connectors with tabs that lock. My recommendation is to find an electronics supply house that sells them and forgo the amateur resellers. If I had to give up my powerpoles, I would not use DC anymore :) They are that easy and simply eliminate having to think about power distribution for interchanging rigs and power supplies.
ISSAQUAHWA1979 Rating: 2010-03-29
Believe the good ignore the ignorance... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been using Power Poles in the larger forms for many years and recently started using the smaller ones. I am not sure where some of the people in these reviews figure the issues with them unless they are seriously unable to read and follow simple directions or simply ignore them. The instructions specifically tell you not to solder and to use a proper crimping tool; I know plenty of people successful with soldering but many who are not when using regular pliers to crimp.

So don't blame the product for ignorance or lack of understanding when used properly these connectors are better than most other products especially for the price point and current capability. For those who wonder about them slipping apart they have pins that prevent this and work just fine although a little tedious to get in the hole if you have fat fingers like me.
K0UA Rating: 2010-02-11
super easy to assemble Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am a new 5 minute owner of some powerpoles, and just assembled my first set of 2. I truly don't understand all the fuss about assembly. complete set from start to finish was less than 5 minutes, and that could easily be less. I did already have a crimper that looks a lot like the cheap 12 dollar one. They seem to go together nice. Time will tell how well they hold up. But they look well made to me. Oh. I have been an electronics tech for over 35 years maybe that helps.
73
Jim K0UA
KE4DRN Rating: 2010-02-03
Easy to assemble Time Owned: more than 12 months.
These connectors work well, are easy to assemble.

For those that say otherwise, just take a look at any electric powered forklift,
reach truck or pallet jack at your local home center.

You will find large PowerPoles on the machines by Raymond and other manufacturers.

The PowerCrimp tool is well made, long comfortable plastic grips on the tool make it easy to use.
VE4AMN Rating: 2010-02-03
Ok once you master the trick Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
These take some care. Agressive crimping can make it hard (impossible) to slide the connector into the housing. A more gentle crimp with solder is the best approach. The You Tube videos are a good start, but plan on going through a dozen before you get the hang of them. You also do not need the expensive tool. A standard crimper and the right touch work fine.
WL7CLA Rating: 2009-12-15
Don't thrash them until you have seen them done right Time Owned: more than 12 months.

The PP is rated for several hundred volts for the specific size in common HAM use (check the Anderson site).

These are in common commercial use, and I run into the larger versions as well as the SB/SY type all the time.

All of the "won't lock" or "falls out" issues *I* have seen are with improperly crimped connectors.

A bend/tweak to the connector caused by crimping with pliers/etc does not just make it hard to insert the contact, it impacts to amount of tension needed for release. A crimped with GB pliers contact where the tab was bent can and wil fall apart. Bending the body/contact is *very* easy using a basic crimping plier.


It is very hard to crimp these properly with a plier crimper. It can be done but takes me 5 - 10 minutes *per contact*.

I did use the cheap crimpers for years, the Anderson and T&B tools were too $$. These days you can get a 15/30/45 ratcheting crimper for < $50. Is worth it, specially for the 45amp contacts and 10ga, bout 30 seconds per contact and no bent contacts.


Also, there are 2 versions of the 45amp contact, the standard and a version with a higher roll on the contact. This second version is made this way to provide better connector retention for larger cables (> 5lbs tension to release).

A 30amp contact with a trimmed 10ga wire inserted and likely bent contacts will easily fall out. A properly assembled set using the high-roll 45a contacts does not.


They are not perfect, and I do with they used a better plastic for the body, but if done right they are better than any other plug system I have used (that did not cost 10x as much).
KU5Q Rating: 2009-11-30
simple connections Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
A little better than banana plugs. Synonymous with fluorescent vests, multiple HT's clipped on the belt, pictures of horrible, cobbled together, and sloppy built projects in QST. Just another cheap, cheesy gimmick product. I'm waiting to read an injury report of a new appliance operator who tried to use these for electrical quick disconnects in the HV section of an RF amp. What rating would you suppose Underwriters Laboratories would give these?