 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Anderson Connectors |
 
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8578  
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I put a post up in reply about Anderson connectors a few weeks back.
Thought I would do another more expanded one. Would be grateful if people could proof read it, point out any mistakes, grammatical errors, areas for improvement etc Thanks folks ANDERSON 2 Anderson sockets are genderless, industrial DC connectors. There are different types of connectors made by Anderson Corporation (1). The Anderson connector typically used in the 4x4/overland world are the SB connectors Genderless connectors have no plug and socket. Instead they use two identical connectors to form a connection. This can be seen in the Anderson connector cross-section below:  Click image to enlarge The name Anderson connectors has become a generic name just like Hoover has for vacuum cleaners Generic/lookalike Anderson connectors can be of much lower quality than the genuine items. In particular the plastic mouldings and contacts may be substandard and may not necessarily be compatible with the genuine items. Poor quality electrical contacts may result in arcing across the contacts and could lead to a fire. Anderson SB connectors comes in four different sizes, rated at continuous 50/120/175/350 amps but capable of carrying higher currents for shorter periods of time. The size typically used in the 4x4 world is the 175 amp SB connector which can carry much higher currents of up to a 1000 amps but only for short period of time. The 175 SB connector is typically used on jump/booster leads and winches. Less power demanding equipment, compressors/drills etc can be connected via the 175 amp connector, however some people prefer the smaller 50 amp connector for such equipment. Click image to enlarge The different colours relate to advised DC voltage from 12V to 144v. They are mechanically keyed so that it is not possible to fit a yellow one to a blue one etc. This prevents 12 volt equipment being plugged into a 144 volt DC supply. The full colour code can be found here (2) 12volt is normally yellow 24 volt is red 36 volt is grey Typically in the UK the grey one is used on Landrovers. However Warn winches use red ones! Anderson also do a range of accessories for their connectors including handles, dust covers, PVC boots Anderson recommendations for crimping or soldering can be found on their website. Either an electrical indent cable or a hexagon hydraulic crimp can be used. Click image to enlarge Home garage crimping methods may result in inadequate crimping and/or excessive flash. Likewise trying to crimp a tube connector onto too smaller a cable can result in excessive flash which can cause problems. Click image to enlarge If access to a proper crimp tool is not available they can be soldered on as well. The best method is probably by using a plumbers blow lamp with the electrical tube contact held in a vice. Half to 2/3 fill the tube contact with solder. If using a heavy duty electrical soldering iron the Anderson tube contact may have to be clamped using some thermal insulation material to prevent excess heat loss into the vice. Strip the insulation off the cable to be used to the length of the tube contact. Tinning the cable is recommended using good quality solder. Use damp (not wet) tissue to prevent the cable insulation melting. Then lower the tinned cable into the molten solder in the tube connector . Do NOT be tempted to crimp a soldered joint as this could result in the solder fracturing causing electrical contact problems Heat shrink tubing can then be applied to the joint. If connecting small diameter wire to a 175 amp Anderson connector (i.e. compressor/drill etc) then some care has to be used in handling this connector to avoid the cables breaking The Anderson connectors can be mounted in many positions on a vehicle both inside and outside. Typically the master Anderson connector on a Land Rover Defender is mounted on the front of the battery box. Whenever cables go through a panel it is wise to use a rubber grommet to reduce risk of electrical problems. Attaching extra large size cables to battery terminals can be awkward dependent on the battery clamp. A battery clamp with a 8mm stud can overcome this problem. However care must be taken that the positive terminal can not short out on the battery box cover. Insulating the underneath of the battery box cover and the positive terminals is good practice.
or like this Click image to enlarge If fitted outside the vehicle cabin it would be wise to use an isolation switch, a red rubber dust cover and a black PVC boot. Standard position for an external Anderson connector is either on the front bumper or under the rear cross member However with a bit of imagination other positions can be found. There are two standard sizes for vehicle isolation switch, 100 amp or 200 amps.
Typically a 100 amp isolation switch is rated up to 500 amps for 5 seconds whereas the 250 amp switch is rated at 2500 for 5 seconds (4) Jump leads/compressors/'cordless' drills/work lights etc can all be fitted with an Anderson connector Please note it is up to the user/installer to ensure that all the equipment/cables etc are correctly rated and fused and is installed according to best practice. References: http://www.andersonpower.com/products/ http://www.andersonpower.com/products/colorcode_mp.html http://www.andersonpower.com/products/use.html http://ripca.com/ Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated  Last edited by leeds on 21st Nov 2010 1:17pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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21st Nov 2010 10:14am |
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| cobs Member Since: 12 Jun 2008 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 336 
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Good guide - if using smaller wire sizes use a reducing bush - the pdf in the link below gives a gude to sizes http://www.andersonpower.com/litlib/files.html/download/495 |
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21st Nov 2010 10:37am |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8578
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Thanks for your input Cobs
Brendan |
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21st Nov 2010 1:29pm |
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| discocuzzy Member Since: 16 Jul 2008 Location: surrey Posts: 1200 
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Great Overview guys
You cannot teach stupid people to do clever things |
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21st Nov 2010 4:26pm |
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| Steve B Member Since: 22 May 2009 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 586 
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Thanks very useful.
Nothing constructive to add but OMG that last picture, what's he powering off that? Steve |
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21st Nov 2010 8:19pm |
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| alantd Member Since: 14 Dec 2008 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 1513 
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Very thorough!
Only one grammatical correction: "Home garage crimping methods may result in inadequate crimping and/or excessive flash. Likewise trying to crimp a tube connector onto too smaller a cable can result in excessive flash which can cause problems." I think should read "...onto too small a cable...". No? Also, I see your references at the end but it would be super-helpful if you could create some inline links. I know you probably don't want to officially recommend specific suppliers of grommets, cables, heat shrink etc (esp as they'll be country specific) but perhaps if not inline then a short paragraph at the end with links to suppliers that you use? A very good post, though. Thanks One that started out as a 2.4 TDCi 110 XS
+ New Defender 110 First Edition |
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23rd Nov 2010 9:11am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 16857 
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Which is .... ? |
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23rd Nov 2010 9:40am |
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| BigMike Member Since: 13 Jul 2010 Location: Lancashire Posts: 2253
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23rd Nov 2010 11:59am |
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| pouf Member Since: 05 Aug 2010 Location: Athens Posts: 456  
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is this cable 25mm or more ? Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated www.newfoundland.gr |
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3rd Jan 2012 11:18am |
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| Peter Td4 Member Since: 23 Oct 2010 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Posts: 227  
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Great stuff, thanks !
I'm also a user of these Anderson connectors since many years and can only recommend them Peter,
Defender 110 StaWa - Td5 Defender 110 HCPU - Puma Defender 90 Soft Top - Td5 |
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3rd Jan 2012 1:44pm |
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| bpman Member Since: 21 May 2008 Location: Oslo Posts: 8069 
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Good document Brendan, more ideas
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3rd Jan 2012 1:47pm |
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| pom Member Since: 01 Jun 2010 Location: Worcester Posts: 1343 |
top info!
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3rd Jan 2012 3:06pm |
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| Eduardo Member Since: 28 Aug 2008 Location: Región Metropolitana Posts: 2108  
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Thanks Leeds for the info.
Very useful. Regretably nobody provide andersson connectors here in Chile 
Cheers Eduardo MY 2007 110 SW PUMA 2.4: Big Fog of 64' MY 1994 Jayco 1207 Folding camper: "El Tremendo" Click image to enlarge |
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3rd Jan 2012 3:26pm |
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| MK Member Since: 28 Aug 2008 Location: Santiago Posts: 2257 
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neither Branston Pickel
Puma 110" SW
............................................................. Earth first. Other planets later |
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3rd Jan 2012 7:35pm |
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