If you’re looking at setting up a dual battery system in your 4wd or towing a caravan or camper, chances are, you’ve heard of a heavy-duty connector, also known as an Anderson plug. But what exactly are they? What are the benefits of using one over a 12-pin plug? And how do you install them? Read on to find out!
What is a Anderson Plug?
An Anderson plug is a moulded, heavy-duty connector designed for high current 12V circuits. They are commonly used to create a safe and secure power connection between a caravan or camper and a tow vehicle. Indeed, most caravans and campers these days have an Anderson plug installed from factory. Heavy-duty connectors can also be used to connect to a fridge in your tow vehicle or camper, or a portable solar panel.
Heavy-duty connectors come in a variety of sizes and current ratings. The larger the plug, the higher the current rating. They also come in a range of colours, including red, black and grey. It’s important to note, though, you can only connect one heavy-duty connector to another of the same colour (red to red, black to black). This colour coding allows you to assign different colour Anderson plugs to different applications or purposes. This is particularly useful where one heavy-duty connector might be used to power an electronic stability control system and another your fridge or compressor.
What’s more, heavy-duty connectors are non-gender; they are male/female and a plug/socket in one. They have the smarts built-in to maintain the correct battery polarity when you plug them together (by flipping one upside down).
What are the benefits of using an Anderson connector over a standard 12-pin connector?
Heavy-duty connectors are one of the most simple and robust means of high current transfer. Engineered to handle continuous charging loads, they are ideal for powering dual battery set-ups (along with a DC-DC charger), fridges, air compresses, solar systems and other high current accessories in your 4WD Tourer
