Thread: Mega newb question about anderson plugs

The Anderson plugs come in a few different sizes, from small enough to hook up your fridge to large enough to jumpstart a diesel engine.
The main advantage in them is that they are very robust, and they do offer a degree of compatability/standardisation between different bits of equipment. Also by way of clever design, they can't be connected up with the wrong polarity.

To answer one of your questions, no they offer no better electrical efficiency than any other plug that makes good contact with the base/socket.

Mine are all of the 50 Amps variety, and I have used them to hook up the rooftop solar panel to the secondary battery (so the panel can be removed from the vehicle if required), as well as to jumper between the Defender and the camper trailer so it will charge the camper trailer battery as we're travelling.

I wouldn't go changing the fridge plug you have - the Engel plugs are pretty reliable (better than cig lighter plugs anyway). My fridge is plugged into a Merit socket, and it hasn't come loose yet. The anderson would probably be overkill for the fridge.

If you do decide to use them, you'll need either a good crimping tool/swager or be able to solder the conductors into them.

I wouldnt solder the lugs - crimp them only, If you dont have a good clean solder job and or the anderson plugs contacts corrode a bit over time, you will get heat from the poor contact. This will melt your solder out and then you will be stuck somewhere with a repair job that you didnt really need to do.
Quite often you can hire, beg, borrow or steal (well maybe not steal) a crimper from an electrical wholesalers or a sparkie to crimp the lugs properly.

I had a rally car at one stage where some goose (prior me owning it) had soldered the starter cable lugs going onto the starter motor. Of course they melted off, just before an event '****'- I know this is like 600 amps not the 40 or so you will probably be set up for - but the principles are the same.

i use anderson plugs on everything so it is standardised thru all my vehicles.

compressors, fridges, lights, and 12v tools

makes life much less complicated when your under the pump.

Originally Posted by scanfor

I wouldn't go changing the fridge plug you have - the Engel plugs are pretty reliable (better than cig lighter plugs anyway). My fridge is plugged into a Merit socket, and it hasn't come loose yet. The anderson would probably be overkill for the fridge.

I agree, I have not had the screw lock on the engel plugs come loose. In the back of my wagon I have an engel socket, a normal cig lighter and an anderson.

Crikey now I'm getting more confused. An Engel socket? I hadnt noticed the difference between and Engel plug and a normal one. They seem to plug into the standard D4 socket.

I'm not sure I understand the difference between a standard plug and a merit plug either.

Perhaps I better go somewhere and see these things in person and compare.

Confused about sockets and plugs click on the plugs page here

The 12 Volt Shop

dont know how far they are from you but you may be able to see them in person at their shop

I'm not suggesting that crimping anderson plugs isn't the way to go, but I've always soldered them, and have nevery had a problem. A $10 butane pencil torch is all I've ever used, and I've found it great to have all my 12v connections standardised to Andersons.

If it were me I'd cut the fridge cable, solder an anderson plug on, and relax knowing that the fridge will never come undone again. While your at it, cut off all your ciggy plugs or clamps off any 12v thingy and replace with andersons - buy in bulk and save!

The true advantage of Anderson plugs is the fact the contacts are self cleaning.