Anderson Powerpole Connectors
by Monty Bonner, KO4KSK
Anderson power poles is a subsidiary of Ideal Corporation is the leader in electrical connectors and tools. If you look over their site, you will see industrial sized power poles for high ampere uses, I have used those in my work at Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). Normally those are connected to a disconnect switch box and should be in the OFF position prior to connecting and disconnecting, good practice which also should be followed in our use. Power off, make all connections, then power supply on, then turn on radio. Most radio manufacturers manuals say that as well. In Vehicle applications, many people make connection to battery (recommended), which requires you to turn off radio when exiting vehicle, good thing to remember. You will find several videos on YouTube and I have selected a few for further information (see the links below). The orientation mentioned in these videos is different, but it really depends on how your application is oriented (power supply). On the end which “plugs into the other device-power supply is assumed” there is a little “A” on the top of the plug. One-person recommends this should be in the UP position.
Consider, how many times you are going to make up ends, etc., because it’s not like you will use these every day unless you install radio equipment for a living. Or possibly, you change around your radio place monthly. You can buy these Connectors on amazon, and a host of other places (links below).
My applications are going to be, from power supply to the radio. Additionally, I am going to make up a secure (foam lined) rugged case, so I can haul the radio to ham field days, and use in the back of my jeep, I will make space for the power supply, but most often it will not be needed, and the radio will connect up direct to the Vehicle. There is a 20A Power adapter which can be used with extension cable to power radio - Cig Buddy - see link below. Additionally, I have an RV, and will make up some kind of connection from a good 12V DC source to power the radio from outside setup on a small table. I am still working on how to make all that work in my mind, too cold now to investigate places to get the power from. Once I have it figured out, I can explain to anyone interested. Or, using PS, and plug into know AC outlet in storage bays. Lots of options to use.
Additionally, it’s been my experience over all the years I have worked on Automotive and Recreational Vehicle DC/AC systems as well as inclement weather applications, that electric conductive protection is used, especially for every DC connection. The last link above is for that product.
Links
The videos are showing how different people assemble these. I especially like the shrink tubing ideas over the non-connection end after assembly is finished as that does take some of the strain from connecting/disconnecting away from the power pole connector.
YouTube Videos
An example: In 1988 through 1995, I was an electrician’s helper on a high voltage substation construction crew for the Bonneville Power Administration (second largest power marketing agency in our nation), and we worked all over the Pacific Northwest, from Central Montana to the Pacific Ocean down to the Oregon/California border. Servicing/repairing/modifying the 115-500 KV high voltage transmission substations.
During World War II, our nation needed aluminum in large quantities for many products, one of which was airplanes, (hundreds of liberty ships were made just east of that plant at a place called Kaiser Shipbuilding. Here is a little historical footnote, that substation help Kaiser build those ships. Alcoa Aluminum built a plant along the Columbia River just west of Vancouver, WA, and BPA constructed a substation to power that plant. All the electrical connections, and bus work was copper. In 1992 or so, we had to modify that substation, and large parts of that copper/iron bus work was taken down and recycled, modifications made and new connections were made. Copper will corrode with a greenish patina, and the bus work looked green, but in every case, every connection was just like the day it was assembled, because we used the NO-OX-ID-Special A (or its predecessor) on them in the 40’s when they were built.
I have used it in every application in automotive/RV connections and I even put it on battery terminals and I don’t have corrosion on any of those treated connections. I am going to use small amount on the wires prior to crimping them for the power poles, as we are talking about copper and DC power, some of which will come from 12V DC Batteries. Corrosion usually occurs on the negative terminal, although not always, so I use it on both sides. It will not affect the quality of the crimp and will keep any corrosion out of my system, in any application even wet ones (humidity in the south). Additionally, it can be used on turnbuckles and any dissimilar metal-to-metal connection for screw threads, or applications which will have lots of moisture/water attacking them. Highly Recommended.
Monty Bonner, KO4KSK