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Seamless Power Integration with Anderson Powerpoles by KB1KIX Photos: Steve Ewald, WV1X and E. Jonathan Hardy, KB1KIX |
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If you've been a ham for even a short amount of time - you've probably seen those odd little connectors. Some liken them to "lego" bricks. But, to us amateur radio operators - the Anderson Powerpole is as close as you can get to universal power connection nirvana, and it's the accepted standard ARES power connector. |
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The Anderson Powerpole (picture left) is a simple, genderless power connector. If you go to the Anderson Power Products website (www.andersonpower.com) and look up powerpoles, you'll learn that there is a large variety of products. I encourage you to take a look at the datasheets for the Powerpoles - there are a lot of good cutaway graphics. Anderson touts the following features / benefits of using Powerpoles: FEATURES · Flat wiping contact system · Interchangeable Genderless design · Colored, Modular housings · Polarized housings · Wide product range - From 10 amps through 180 amps · UL94 V-0 housing material BENEFITS · Allows for minimal contact resistance at high current, wiping action cleans contact surface during disconnection. · Simplifies assembly requirements and reduces parts inventory. · Allows customized multi-pole configurations with visual color coding to match wires. · Prevents damage to connectors from being mated incorrectly. · Allows versatility to choose product best suited to design requirements. |
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There are many great aftermarket distribution panels like the West Mountain RIGrunner shown here on the left. Given the large variety of Powerpoles available - for the purpose of this tutorial, we'll stick to the 30A version (this is the most common Powerpole connector you'll see in Emergency Operations Centers, American Red Cross amateur radio stations, Salvation Team Emergency Radio Network, etc. It is inexpensive (less than $2.00 a pair (average street price) and extremely durable. ---(continued next page) |