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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
K6USN Rating: 2008-09-04
Assemble them correctly and they work fine Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is an 19 month follow up from an earlier review. I use Powerpoles on all of my HF and VHF radios and power accessories both in the field and at home. My 'field' sojourns include all over the South Pacific to some pretty remote places and throughout the US. I have never had one short, burn up corrode or become intermittant. I have had a small number pull away from the mating pair, but Anderson sells a small plastic strain relief cover (or use a cable tie) that prevents this if it is problem. It isn't for me.

I sense frustration from some reviewers (including the immature language and comments) when they can't get them to work right the first time. I had a learning curve too! Remember your first PL 259 or BNC connector? You do need a crimping tool, and don't try to solder them. They
are not perfect, but do provide a relatively inexpensive, commonly compatable alternative to the variety of propriatory plugs of all persuasions that are out there. This is a hobby, not the space station!

Until there is a better solution, I plan to keep
my Powerpoles.

K6USN (E51USN)


----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by K6USN on 2007-02-13

I've been using them since they first came out several years ago. Very glad to get rid of all the weird Molex plugs and one-of-a-kind (propriatory)connectors that didn't fit my power supplies or radios. Now all my radios, power supplies and accessories are compatable. Better yet, they are compatable with a lot of other peoples' radios too!

Yes, there IS a learning curve!! The connections can be tricky (especially with smaller gage wire)
and I've ruined my fair share. Thankfully, the
casings can be re used, and it is only the connectors that have to be replaced - not expensive.

To me the pros outweigh the cons by a wide margin.
I do wish they had some sort of sleeve and clamp to make a firmer attachment from the plug to the cable. I use shrink wrap and cable ties (through the hole where the retaining pin goes) to strengthen the cable to Powerpole joint. We hams always have to find something to improve!

K6USN/VK4DSN
N1KSN Rating: 2008-09-04
Work for me Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My, my. The opinions on Powerpole connectors sure are polarized. (Sorry.) Frankly, I just can't see why anyone would get emotional (positive or negative) over DC power connectors.

My experiences with them have been good. Yes, I messed up a few at the beginning, but the benefits far outweigh a bit of waste. If the price of a decent crimp tool bothers you, just look and see what a good ratchet crimper for RF connectors costs.

The basic benefit for me is the flexibility they provide, particularly when I use different cable and equipment combinations. Not having male and female versions is a big help.

If you don't like them, don't use them.
NS5U Rating: 2008-09-03
Good Solution to? Time Owned: more than 12 months.
APPs are a good solution to my installation needs. They do require a proper crimper(some as inexpensive as $15) and technique which the manufacturer clearly describes. I had to replace the first half dozen or so I installed until my technique was acceptable. Once installed correctly they are low resistance, easily disconnected, and not easily reversed. The easy disconnect is a plus to me. It prevents portable equipment from being thrown about when a power cord gets caught on a moving object. If the disconnect feature isn't desired a simple snap in plastic clip or more radically a wire tie will make them quite sturdy. They come in several sizes to accommodate various current requirements up to and including fork lifts.


Installed correctly and applied properly they work as well as or better than the alternatives. In my case they have worked better.
The reason most commercial equipment is now offered with crimp on connectors has less to do with cost than it has with reliability. Once upon a time the use of phillips head screws was seen as a cheap shortcut at the expense of utility. Who currently uses slotted screws?
K4IA Rating: 2008-09-03
Barf me Time Owned: more than 12 months.
These toads in a tuxedo are the worst hoax ever perpetuated on the ham community. Read "The Emperor's New Clothes."

Expensive, fall apart, only works with an expensive "crimper," goofy excuses for a connector.

Who needs this fake, mumbo-jumbo, make-it-happen, excuse to charge extra, solution-in-search-of-a-problem? Take a banana plug - wrap the wire around it - and you are done.

Wake up!

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Earlier 3-star review posted by K4IA on 2006-01-25

OK What is the big deal? I got some and haven't figured out why I need them.

You gotta run wire from your power supply and then you put one of these thingies on it and then you run wire from your rig to another of these thingies and you plug them together. Why bother? Just run wire from your rig to the power supply and hook the red to the positive and the black to the negative. We don't need these thingies - just use an eye (if you want to be neat) or wrap the wire around the terminal.

Have I discovered the emperor has no clothes? I thought the idea was to keep it simple. This is a complicated solution in search of a problem.
KA0SOG Rating: 2008-08-21
Unsuitable for Pick up Truck Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
They may great at home but they are useless in two areas;

1. I bought a product using these connectors for my pick up. They were unreliable and popped out even when assembled properly.

2. As I assembled the mobile application above realized the cross section of the blade is a fraction that of the 12 guage power cables. They defeat the value of a heavy wire when the power has to push through the much smaller cross section of the connector blade. Note product photo above.

Maybe they are great for bench work or a stationary use but forget it for rugged mobile use or in applications where higher amps are a design consideration.
K5VY Rating: 2008-07-25
Great Product if assembled correctly Time Owned: more than 12 months.
PowerPoles are a useful and versitle item WHEN ASSEMBLED PROPERLY. I've been using them for about three years in my Ham Shack and my nobile. I had problems in the beginning because of not folowing the directions EXACTLY. My fault, not theirs. The 30 amp size does the job very well for me. I use the crimper from West Mountain, and again, when used according to the instructions, results were just fine. I've used literally hundreds of these connectors over the years and have yet to have a failure WHEN ASSEMBLED PROPERLY. I've never had them come apart, or fail to carry the rated load. I agree the crimper is pricey, but over the time it has proven to be worth the money.
KC0JGJ Rating: 2008-07-21
A good solution to organized Power Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The Anderson power poles are a good solution to organizing and distributing power to the many many little things that require power.

They can turn a rats nest of wire into a organized and easily maintainable/ structured wiring scheme.

When using the proper clips and pins,fast durable and reliable connections can be made.

They just like every thing that has been rated on this web meet a need, and may not be for you.

How ever for me they have proven to be invaluable.

73
W0QH
KB1IKD Rating: 2008-07-21
Powerpole Alternatives Needed Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I use Anderson Powerpoles and have had no problems with them, but have not placed them into any demanding service where I would expect problems. However, I have noticed that they can be disconnected easily by moderate pulling which might create opportunities for problems where service is hard and the need for reliability critical. It may be more helpful for those operators who may require more rugged connectors to be advised by those blessed by the opportunity to work on aerospace/military critical connections and view the Anderson Powerpole as significantly deficient poor replacement as to what they recommend as a practical available alternative. Operators who may want a more rugged connection could then choose a superior alternative to the Powerpole, if they need it, rather than wonder about Powerpole alternatives. Operators who decide to use an alternative could make pigtail adaptors with Powerpoles to facilitate ARES/RACES and Field Day equipment interconnectivity.

de KB1IKD
N2DY Rating: 2008-07-21
Cleaned Up My Shack Time Owned: N.A.
I used Powerpoles along with a Rigrunner to clean up all the wires running to my power supply. I utilized the West Mountain deluxe crimper to install the connectors. The crimper worked perfectly. The connections are clean and solid. My connectors stay together. I am not sure what the complaints are all about. Powerpoles work great for me. Perhaps having the proper crimping tool makes a big difference. In any case, I am very pleased and it certainly cleaned up the shack.
K3CGA Rating: 2008-07-21
I find them useful Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I use the Power Pole connectors exclusively on my shack. My shack is neat and all wiring is up off the floor and have never had a connector pull apart. I have several strips full of these connectors. To each his own. Someone said it right, they are either loved or hated. I don't know about you but I sold my SR-71 a long time ago.