For Trakka campervan owners getting ready for Tour 07, this issue may be timely.
For the original equipment 12v Indel "B" refrigerator and Arlec 12 battery charger, I recently discovered that the inline connect/disconnect bullet type connectors on the 12v power supply cables were running very hot. This was most noticeable when both appliances were concurrently working at maximum, which for mine at least is pretty typical, particularly in hot weather.
I figured this was pretty understandable after 16 years of neglect so I got to it and pulled apart the connectors, scraped and wire brushed the mating surfaces as best I could and finished with CRC 226 spray and snapped them back together and tried again. Much improved but still running warm whereas the cable was not. Not happy. What to do?
I searched the shops for a better type of connector, perhaps one that could not only be crimped on but also soldered. Almost gave up as the usual suppliers sell nothing but the usual bullet and spade crimp-type inline connectors and I've never been a big fan of these. Just because they are quick to do, doesn't necessarily make for a long term good continuity power supply connection. Other than those, all I found were Anderson type connectors. They are really great but start at 50 Amp rating and very expensive and too bulky. Almost gave up.
Lo and behold I finally discovered a FIRST time listing in the 2006 Jaycar catalogue for an Anderson type 30 Amp rated DC inline connector. Turned out to be brilliant. They are available in a pack of 2, one red and one black, are very compact and sturdy and as a pair, can easily be physically slide-fastened together. So two packs are needed to re-do each of the appliances inline power supply connections.
With the Anderson type connector, there are no male and female types. The design is such that you simply reverse the direction of one connector of a mating pair and they connect together quite positively. Can be crimped or soldered, in my case I chose to solder.
Being unfamiliar with this connector, installing it for the first time I found to be the hardest bit as there are no instructions or diagrams as to the orientation of the copper connector for insertion and snapping into place inside the plastic housing. You just need to double check that all components align correctly before fixing them to the cables. Takes a while to do but definitely worth the effort.
Conclusion? I reckon these are brilliant DC power supply inline connectors for use in our Trakkas. They are of a well thought out design and offer extremely positive links enabling maximum continuity for connectors that can still be pulled apart as required. And the connections are now running ..... COOL! One more job I can now cross off the "TO DO" list ... phew!
Hope this helps. Cheers.
Ken
P.S. I don't have any shares in Jaycar.