anderson plug - too stiff to plug in and out...
Submitted: Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 11:27
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117886
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Replies:
9
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Natalie P2
Hi all, wonder if anyone can help, after two weeks travelling with a new anderson plug it is becoming almost impossible to plug and unplug, are we doing something wrong?
Cheers, Natalie
Reply By: Mick O - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 11:32
Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 11:32
No, they are very stiff for a reason Nat and that's about providing a very robust connection. You can buy 'T' handles for them that make it much easier to disconnect.
Anderson Plug handle on ebay
Cheers Mick
AnswerID:
553869
Reply By: Member - Chooky and Wobble - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 11:39
Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 11:39
Check that the pins havent turned slightly. They should be parallel and
check both halves. If thats not the problem you can use a low oil lubricant like crc. You can also buy handles for the connectors that make unplugging easier.
AnswerID:
553870
Reply By: TomH - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 13:43
Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 13:43
Yep the red handles and some CRC will work wonders. Had both Much easier to use
AnswerID:
553874
Follow Up By: vk1dx - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 14:25
Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 14:25
Agree and when you get the chance give it a good strong hose out. Don't lubricate as the lubrication will gather dust and much and make things worse.
FollowupID:
839759
Reply By: Notso - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 15:00
Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 15:00
Graphite powder is good for lubing this sort of thing. A puff every now and then will keep it easy to push in and pull out.
AnswerID:
553877
Reply By: Craig M1 - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 15:00
Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 15:00
May be a bit of dry graphite will lubricate. Some times if the leads have been soldered in the solder may have run over the connecting terminal. You need to remove the terminal and file it off. Also
check that the terminal has clicked correctly into position.
Regards craig
AnswerID:
553879
Reply By: Natalie P2 - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 17:07
Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 17:07
Thanks everyone, I think the two tongues are hitting each other when I push the connectors together, getting harder and harder to push together as they seem to be headbutting! Weird, these plugs are only two weeks old :(
AnswerID:
553887
Follow Up By: Gronk - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 18:45
Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 18:45
Pull them apart and have a good look......both contacts should be the same on both plugs.....possible one contact has slipped back a bit off the spring loaded clip ..
I've never had anderson plugs too hard to push in...in fact the opposite !!
FollowupID:
839770
Follow Up By: Natalie P2 - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 18:54
Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 18:54
They needed to be straightened! They had a slight bend, couldn't tell before we pulled it apart! Thanks for all the responses, all sorted out now :) cheers!
FollowupID:
839773
Reply By: Member - mechpete - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 19:47
Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 19:47
check to see if the terminals are sitting the right way in the plugs .
buy a can of silicon spray , I had the same thing recently.
cheers mechpete
AnswerID:
553898
Follow Up By: Member - P - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 20:34
Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 20:34
Agree, Silicon Spray is the way to go. It does not collect the dirt and dust and is cheap to buy @ Cheap as Chips. Put a can in the vehicle as it has many uses.
FollowupID:
839781
Reply By: Slow one - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 20:44
Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 20:44
Good to see you have found your problem but I would like to add a warning. Graphite is a great lubricator for locks and contact surfaces but I would be very hesitant to use it on adjacent electrical contacts as it is one very good conductor of electricity. It may track between the + and - contacts causing at the least a current drain or at worst a short depending how much was used.
AnswerID:
553901
Follow Up By: Gronk - Monday, May 18, 2015 at 10:02
Monday, May 18, 2015 at 10:02
Yep, and that goes for any other lubricant....an anderson plug needs nothing.....if full of dust or mud, hose it out and let dry..
If you want to make sure it has clean contacts, push them together and pull them apart a few times ( 10 times if it takes your fancy )..
Don't file the contacts either....if the contacts look "dirty" or damaged, unsolder and replace them.....they are cheap as..
FollowupID:
839817
Reply By: Member - Robert1660 - Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 22:56
Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 22:56
My experience with Anderson plugs has been rather mixed. I have had problems with them disconnecting when driving and consequently destroying themselves as you drive. It is a shock to see only bare wires where your Anderson plug once was. I always cable tie them these days to avoid issues.
AnswerID:
553906