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Merit or Hella plugs - or something else

Submitted: Friday, Nov 06, 2009 at 15:15

Mikee5 (Logan QLD)

Hi all,
I am tired of my cigarette plugs coming unconnected from vibrations. I have heard of Hella and Merit plugs and was thinking of swapping over. What do people think of either type? Which is better? Are the hole size different to my current plugs? I use a fridge, MP3 player, laptop charger, battery charger etc.

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Mike
ThreadID: 73569 Replies: 8
Views: 722 FollowUps: 10
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AnswerID: 390261   Submitted: Friday, Nov 06, 2009 at 15:45

Shaker replied:

The Engel plug & base is the best. Hella/Merit plugs also vibrate out.

Reply 1 of 8
FollowupID: 658030   Submitted: Friday, Nov 06, 2009 at 16:07

Mikee5 (Logan QLD) posted:

Thanks Shaker,
Can I buy an Engel plug & base somewhere, I am not familiar with them. My engel was born in 1976 and has a cigarette type plug on it, which BTW never vibrates loose.

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Mike
FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 390262   Submitted: Friday, Nov 06, 2009 at 15:46

ABR - SIDEWINDER replied:

Hi Mike

I covered this in one of our newsletters.

Have a look here...

Which_Plug

The ABR_newsletter index is here...

News_Index

Regards

Derek
ABR - SIDEWINDERABR - SIDEWINDER
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Reply 2 of 8
FollowupID: 658023   Submitted: Friday, Nov 06, 2009 at 15:49

Mikee5 (Logan QLD) posted:

Hi Derek,

Will the Hella's fit directly into the hole left by a cigarette lighter plug?
Your newsletter says 12mm ID,what is OD in comparison please?

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Mike
FollowUp 1 of 3
FollowupID: 658026   Submitted: Friday, Nov 06, 2009 at 15:52

Shaker posted:

Believe me, the Hella plugs still vibrate out, almost as badly as a cigarette lighter style.
FollowUp 2 of 3
FollowupID: 658027   Submitted: Friday, Nov 06, 2009 at 15:58

ABR - SIDEWINDER posted:

18mm hole.



I would recommend you buy one plug and one socket and decide if it is what you need. The best fit is the HD one with no fuse, it is a snap fit.
ABR - SIDEWINDERABR - SIDEWINDER
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FollowUp 3 of 3
AnswerID: 390264   Submitted: Friday, Nov 06, 2009 at 15:56

Maîneÿ . . . replied:

You can use Anderson plugs

For the huge price of about $4 you can get a reliable joining system with these as they are rated @ 30 Amps.

Link: Anderson Powerpole

Maîneÿ . . .

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Reply 3 of 8
FollowupID: 658033   Submitted: Friday, Nov 06, 2009 at 16:09

Mikee5 (Logan QLD) posted:

Thanks Mainey,
They seem to be more suitable for in line connections, and also it looks like I would need 2 - one pos and one neg for each connection?

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Mike
FollowUp 1 of 3
FollowupID: 658037   Submitted: Friday, Nov 06, 2009 at 16:35

Member - Sigmund (VIC) posted:

They're symmetrical, ie. no gender, so two will give you a connection. They plug together at 180 degrees.
_____________________
Cheers, Ern
Subaru Forester and Ivan the camper trailer
FollowUp 2 of 3
FollowupID: 658073   Submitted: Friday, Nov 06, 2009 at 19:23

Maîneÿ . . . posted:

They are well designed solid "in-line connections"
Yes, you will need 2 per individual connection
Being 4 in total for the two (+) and (-) connections

Four of these connectors will only set you back <$8
(the secret is to colour code them to suit their use)

Maîneÿ . . .
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FollowUp 3 of 3
AnswerID: 390276   Submitted: Friday, Nov 06, 2009 at 16:58

Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) replied:


Hi Mike,
The Anderson Power Poles are the go, they don't come apart and can handle far more current than the other choices.

They can be installed in panels as per this photo,






If you're looking for them locally have a chat to Ian from RV Powerstream he pays to be a corporate member here on ExploreOz and is a very approachable bloke.

I've tried the Hella's, Merit and the Engel plugs. I'd never go back to them, the Anderson gear is vastly superior, is half the size and cheaper too.

The only thing is you need to either solder the pins or buy a crimper for the Power Poles, I bought the crimper.

Geoff


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Geoff,
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Reply 4 of 8
FollowupID: 658119   Submitted: Saturday, Nov 07, 2009 at 10:57

Member - Mike DID posted:

What's unique about Anderson as high-current connectors is that they're silver-plated - good conductivity from day one - and it stays good.
Mike R
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AnswerID: 390282   Submitted: Friday, Nov 06, 2009 at 17:34

Sand Man (SA) replied:

Wow Mike,

You must be really confused by now.

I have been using Merit/Hella plugs and sockets for years and never had one vibrate loose.

Anderson connectors are great for heavy current draw, but for standardisation of most 12 volt equipment, to my mind the Hella plug is the most practical and sound solution.

The hella plug comes with a removable red collar, enabling it to fit either the standard cigarette socket (with collar in place) or a merit style socket with collar removed.

I have a range of 12 volt equipment most of which have the hella style plug on them.
My Thumper has two merit style sockets and one cigarette style socket and I can connect any of the devices into an available socket.
Generally, I have the solar panel plugged into one socket, the fridge in another and a 12 volt fluro in another ready for dark. Come nightfall, the solar panel is disconnected and generally another 12 volt light connected.
I run two 12 volt lights for a while at camp. One piranha/versalite fluro with a yellow filter over the cooking area at one end of the annex and a Evakool Torpedo light at the other end where insect attraction is not an issue.

The hella plugs and merit sockets work for me.

Bill.



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Reply 5 of 8
AnswerID: 390295   Submitted: Friday, Nov 06, 2009 at 18:38

Crackles replied:

Just to confuse you more with another option many use Clipsal plugs conservatively rated at 15 amps & very secure. Have very little loss accross the connection unlike several others, being available in either surface mount or extension lead type plugs.
Cheers Craig..........
Reply 6 of 8
FollowupID: 658109   Submitted: Saturday, Nov 07, 2009 at 07:47

Members - Bow & Nan posted:

I have used Clipsal plugs for years and never had a problem. They are used in the mining Industry because they are Bullet proof.

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Gone fishing
FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 390345   Submitted: Saturday, Nov 07, 2009 at 09:23

Robin Miller replied:

Some Good Options above MIke, but also give getting a better cig lighter plug ago.

Many outlets will stock Lion brand heavy duty units which have 4 copper plated engagement springs and come with a short lead atached.

Solved our problems and they fit in with the many cig lighter based bits and pieces.
Survivor -Top Crossing Hut Trk
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Robin Miller
Reply 7 of 8
FollowupID: 658207   Submitted: Sunday, Nov 08, 2009 at 07:41

Member - Mike DID posted:

Finding a good Cig Lighter Plug and Socket is the hard part. Think about how a Cigarette Lighter works - you push it in hard and it grips really tightly, then pops out by itself.

You need to make sure that the socket has curved springs that grip the plug - you can see them right down the bottom - but these springs are useless with most plugs - you must have a plug with a collar near the tip for the springs to grip.
Mike R
FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 390423   Submitted: Saturday, Nov 07, 2009 at 22:34

Member - lyndon NT replied:

We use merit and find they work well, never had one fall out yet! They also fit directly into a cig plug if needed.

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