Anderson plug installation
Submitted: Wednesday, Oct 04, 2006 at 14:39
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T-Ribby
Hi all.
Got an Anderson plug and deep cycle battery on my camper-trailer.
Going to get the corresponding plug installed on my 4WD towing machine.
When I'm talking to an auto electrician who does these installations, what
should I insist on e.g. heavier wiring than standard ? I don't mind paying a bit more for a
longer lasting system.
cheers
T-Rib
Reply By: Gerhardp1 - Wednesday, Oct 04, 2006 at 15:05
Wednesday, Oct 04, 2006 at 15:05
You will need to install a Redarc or similar isolater under the bonnet, then you need to run 8mm cable from the Redarc to the anderson plug. Make sure you run Earth AND Active from the front, don't use the chassis for earth. MAke sure there is a circuit breaker between the battery and the Redarc.
On the trailer, run the two cables from the Plug to the battery, and fit another circuit breaker to the active. Then earth the battery to the camper chassis.
When running my cables I also had a 5mm cable for the electric brakes as
well as the 2 8mm battery cables, and I pulled them through a bit of poly garden hose which was a tight fit, and then cable tied this to the top of the chassis rail.
Finally make sure the anderson plugs are soldered rather than crimped, because they get a lot of dust and water in them which will render a crimped connection useless very quickly.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Grungle - Wednesday, Oct 04, 2006 at 16:43
Wednesday, Oct 04, 2006 at 16:43
Hi T-Rib,
Depending on the size of the Anderson plug on the trailer (whether its a 50A or 175A plug) I would use the recommended cable for the plug. My 50A Anderson plug is made to fit 16mm square cable so this is what I used. You are talking a long distance from the engine bay to your camper battery so this is what I would recommend to reduce voltage drop and handle high current loads (very flat battery). Also run both +ve and -ve back to battery and don't ground to chassis. Any good auto elecy will do this anyway.
Also I would recommend an automatic resetable circuit breaker of around 20-50A (depending on how many batteries you have in the camper) at each end in case the cabling shorts out in the middle somewhere due to rubbing.
An isolator is a good idea as
well but you can do without if you remember to disconnect the camper plugs.
Regards
David
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