My ARB fridge recently went " on the blink ", started intermittant on/ off, then off. I could get a power reading at the fridge end, but no working on 12v, fine on 240v.
Went to an expert, almost some sort of relo, and he found that there was " no continuity reading ", pull oem plug back apart and some signs of it getting pretty hot, and that positive power hold down screw was almost bottomed out, shorter screw and it worked.
But in interests of reliability we fitted a heavy duty Narva right angle version with seperate inline blade fuse. ( oem had older style ceramic barrell type).
Technically yes Possum, but he is actually very nice,knowlegable and doesnt charge me like a wounded bull.
Also, I have a dedicated double outlet socket, for merrit and cigarette style, so a major mission to change to Anderson, due to drawer and cage setup. (Someone with 6ft ourangatang arms could do it)
Mike Harding said
12:37 PM Apr 6, 2023
Ah ha! The old 12V automotive cigar lighter connector.
Each and every one of them should be removed, taken outside, placed on a solid concrete block and then beaten severely with a 1kg to 2kg lump hammer.
I don't have much more regard for Anderson connectors frankly although I do use them (Chinese versions from eBay) due to the sad lack of capable and reasonably priced low voltage, high current connectors.
rgren2 said
01:43 PM Apr 6, 2023
Mike Harding wrote:
Ah ha! The old 12V automotive cigar lighter connector.
Each and every one of them should be removed, taken outside, placed on a solid concrete block and then beaten severely with a 1kg to 2kg lump hammer.
I don't have much more regard for Anderson connectors frankly although I do use them (Chinese versions from eBay) due to the sad lack of capable and reasonably priced low voltage, high current connectors.
I only used original Anderson plugs, never had an issue. Also have a handful of 175 amp plugs, they are actually easier to use than the 50 amp version.
So what if the originals cost more, I just couldn't be stuffed with long term torture.
Mike Harding said
02:30 PM Apr 6, 2023
You both fail to understand:
It's not the quality of the connector manufacture which is at issue... but rather that the design of the thing is crap.
rgren2 said
02:40 PM Apr 6, 2023
Mike Harding wrote:
You both fail to understand:
It's not the quality of the connector manufacture which is at issue... but rather that the design of the thing is crap.
What do you recommend?
Mike Harding said
03:02 PM Apr 6, 2023
rgren2 wrote:
What do you recommend?
Nothing: I am not aware of any viable alternative which is why I use the Chinese Andersons connectors.
There are plenty of commercial, military and medical quality high current, low voltage connectors on the market but their price is far beyond amateur use (ie. $30+ for each gender and often lots more).
If anyone knows of an alternative I'd love to hear about it?
Whenarewethere said
05:02 PM Apr 6, 2023
I like the simplicity to the design which then can be modified with accessories for different mounting situations. The basic plug is always the same (within the amp capacity). It's also ubiquitous, which has a lot of value in itself.
Mamil said
08:02 PM Apr 6, 2023
Mike Harding wrote:
Ah ha! The old 12V automotive cigar lighter connector.
Each and every one of them should be removed, taken outside, placed on a solid concrete block and then beaten severely with a 1kg to 2kg lump hammer.
I don't have much more regard for Anderson connectors frankly although I do use them (Chinese versions from eBay) due to the sad lack of capable and reasonably priced low voltage, high current connectors.
I think you'll find the one pictured is actually a Merit plug, albeit a 90deg one. It goes by many other names such as Hella plug, BMW/Triumph motorcycle plug, Powerlet plug, and by it's official designation of ISO 4165.
It's far superior to the ubiquitous cigar lighter type because it was originally designed as a DC plug, by the Germans in WWII for their military vehicles, and not a modification of something never intended for that purpose!
Specifically, while the cigar plug is always trying to jettison itself from the socket due to the spring loaded central positive pin pushing it out, the positive pin on the Merit is fixed and indented, and is gripped firmly by a clasp inside the socket, like an audio jack plug. Another advantage is that the Merit plugs and sockets are about half the size of the cigar ones (comparative scale on the photos below is misleading), particularly useful when you are bulkhead mounting a 12v socket and the space behind where you're mounting it is an issue.
First thing I did when I bought my new camper was to replace all the cigar sockets with merit sockets!
Incidentally you can also get combi Merit/Cigar plugs that have a removeable red adapter which converts them from one to the other - but beware, it's one of those cases where by trying to do two things it does neither well. My advice is to stick to straight Merit plugs if you want a good connection.
Merit plug...
90deg Merit plug
Cigar plug...
Combi Merit/Cigar plug...
Comparison of the sockets - Merit on left and Cigar on right...
-- Edited by Mamil on Thursday 6th of April 2023 08:31:44 PM
Thanks for that information. I was unaware of the Merit connector and will investigate further.
Craig1 said
10:00 AM Apr 7, 2023
Thanks Mamil, I have the 90d plug with the combo outlet as pictured. It is now a positive engagement, much different to the "combo " plug also pictured.
Mamil said
02:15 PM Apr 7, 2023
Craig1 wrote:
Thanks Mamil, I have the 90d plug with the combo outlet as pictured. It is now a positive engagement, much different to the "combo " plug also pictured.
Sounds like your relo knows what he's doing and not least because he also added an inline fuse. Most cigar type plugs have an inegral glass fuse, so if replacing it with an unfused type of plug like Merit, Engel, or Anderson, you should add an appropriate inline fuse so the wire continues to be protected.
Mamil said
02:37 PM Apr 7, 2023
Mike Harding wrote:
Thanks for that information. I was unaware of the Merit connector and will investigate further.
Hi Mike, apart from the Merit plug another one worth looking at is the Engel posi-fit. Rated to 15A @ 12VDC and incorporates a screw-in collar to secure the plug in the socket - very useful for appliances that need to stay plugged in and running while bouncing around in the caravan/camper while underway, like a fridge.
My ARB fridge recently went " on the blink ", started intermittant on/ off, then off. I could get a power reading at the fridge end, but no working on 12v, fine on 240v.
Went to an expert, almost some sort of relo, and he found that there was " no continuity reading ", pull oem plug back apart and some signs of it getting pretty hot, and that positive power hold down screw was almost bottomed out, shorter screw and it worked.
But in interests of reliability we fitted a heavy duty Narva right angle version with seperate inline blade fuse. ( oem had older style ceramic barrell type).
Just for info or fault find
+1 for Anderson plug.
I also put in a 7 amp panel fuse, from Jaycar, mounted just behind the modified plug (red thing).
Also rewired the 1.1m of 16awg wire within the fridge with 12awg wire.
Reduced loses replacing all the 16awg rubbish cables. About 0.17 volts improvement.
Also, I have a dedicated double outlet socket, for merrit and cigarette style, so a major mission to change to Anderson, due to drawer and cage setup. (Someone with 6ft ourangatang arms could do it)
Ah ha! The old 12V automotive cigar lighter connector.
Each and every one of them should be removed, taken outside, placed on a solid concrete block and then beaten severely with a 1kg to 2kg lump hammer.
I don't have much more regard for Anderson connectors frankly although I do use them (Chinese versions from eBay) due to the sad lack of capable and reasonably priced low voltage, high current connectors.
I only use genuine, I get them from this place.
https://www.tools.com/?rf=kw&kw=Anderson+plugs
I only used original Anderson plugs, never had an issue. Also have a handful of 175 amp plugs, they are actually easier to use than the 50 amp version.
So what if the originals cost more, I just couldn't be stuffed with long term torture.
You both fail to understand:
It's not the quality of the connector manufacture which is at issue... but rather that the design of the thing is crap.
What do you recommend?
Nothing: I am not aware of any viable alternative which is why I use the Chinese Andersons connectors.
There are plenty of commercial, military and medical quality high current, low voltage connectors on the market but their price is far beyond amateur use (ie. $30+ for each gender and often lots more).
If anyone knows of an alternative I'd love to hear about it?
I like the simplicity to the design which then can be modified with accessories for different mounting situations. The basic plug is always the same (within the amp capacity). It's also ubiquitous, which has a lot of value in itself.
I think you'll find the one pictured is actually a Merit plug, albeit a 90deg one. It goes by many other names such as Hella plug, BMW/Triumph motorcycle plug, Powerlet plug, and by it's official designation of ISO 4165.
It's far superior to the ubiquitous cigar lighter type because it was originally designed as a DC plug, by the Germans in WWII for their military vehicles, and not a modification of something never intended for that purpose!
Specifically, while the cigar plug is always trying to jettison itself from the socket due to the spring loaded central positive pin pushing it out, the positive pin on the Merit is fixed and indented, and is gripped firmly by a clasp inside the socket, like an audio jack plug. Another advantage is that the Merit plugs and sockets are about half the size of the cigar ones (comparative scale on the photos below is misleading), particularly useful when you are bulkhead mounting a 12v socket and the space behind where you're mounting it is an issue.
First thing I did when I bought my new camper was to replace all the cigar sockets with merit sockets!
Incidentally you can also get combi Merit/Cigar plugs that have a removeable red adapter which converts them from one to the other - but beware, it's one of those cases where by trying to do two things it does neither well. My advice is to stick to straight Merit plugs if you want a good connection.
Merit plug...
90deg Merit plug
Cigar plug...
Combi Merit/Cigar plug...
Comparison of the sockets - Merit on left and Cigar on right...
-- Edited by Mamil on Thursday 6th of April 2023 08:31:44 PM
Thanks for that information. I was unaware of the Merit connector and will investigate further.
Sounds like your relo knows what he's doing and not least because he also added an inline fuse. Most cigar type plugs have an inegral glass fuse, so if replacing it with an unfused type of plug like Merit, Engel, or Anderson, you should add an appropriate inline fuse so the wire continues to be protected.
Hi Mike, apart from the Merit plug another one worth looking at is the Engel posi-fit. Rated to 15A @ 12VDC and incorporates a screw-in collar to secure the plug in the socket - very useful for appliances that need to stay plugged in and running while bouncing around in the caravan/camper while underway, like a fridge.