In article "noel.wade" writes:
On Nov 28, 4:12=A0pm, 6PK wrote:

Tryed Andersons- tend to pull apart. PeterK

This isn't a slight against Peter; but IMHO if your Anderson PowerPole
connectors are pulling apart, you're putting a fair amount of tension
on the wires. They're not meant to be weight-bearing or let you
"hang" equipment off of them (which, yes, I've seen in some
gliders).

The other possibility is that perhaps some folks are over-crimping the
connector. If you crimp the PowerPole connector properly, the spring-
loaded contactor and plastic housing make a solid connection that
takes a reasonable amount of force to pull apart. If you over-crimp
it I've seen this deform the metal contactor and thus it provides a
less-secure connection.


Also, bending the metal connector before it is snapped in, can make
it not snap firmly in, or not make good connections.

The powerpole specification sheet on the www.powerwerx.com site list
two versions of the metal connectors, low detent and high detent. The
disconnect force for the low detent is 3 pounds, so it would take a 6
pound pull to disconnect a pair (assuming they were properly assembled).

The high detent version claims 5 pounds so it would take 10 pounds pull,
but it appears that the high detent version may only be available on
rolls at some of the current levels.

My own experience was that the higher current versions held tighter,
so it might be worth using the 45 amp versions -- but having seen the
specs, now I have the urge to go measure the various types and see if
they differ. (Or were my 45 amp ones high detent???)


Another thing to be aware of is that soldering has some problems
compared to crimping. It makes a good electrical connection to the
wire, but the solder will wick back into the wire a bit, making it
stiffer and more likely to break instead of bend. Not good to have
the wire break inside the insulation while you were using it.

Another problem with soldering is it is very difficult to keep the
solder from running out on the connecting surface, covering the silver
plating. You probably wind up with a less smooth surface that makes
poorer contact.


Alan