page_title: Anderson Powerpole
section_title: Overview
hierarchical_section_title: Anderson Powerpole / Overview
caption_attribution_description: Anderson Powerpole cutaway view and crimped contacts
context_page_description: The Anderson Powerpole is a family of electrical connectors by Anderson Power Products, although plug compatible connectors are now available from alternate sources. Specific variants of this series of connectors have become de facto standards for conveying "higher power" direct current electrical power, although these standards are inconsistent and sometimes ignored.
context_section_description: Powerpole connectors are physically and electrically hermaphroditic, thus avoiding the need to worry about which end is the plug and which the socket, or which end has the correct polarity.  This is in contrast to the physically- but not electrically-hermaphroditic two-wire trailer plug.
  Powerpole connectors are available with current ratings up to 180 amperes.  The size most commonly used is the 15/30/45 ampere-rated variety. These sizes all use the same plastic housing in multiple colors, differing only in the metal contact inserted into the housing (selected based on the ampacity and wire size).  The colors can be used to signify signal types (power, speaker, logic, microphone audio, etc.) or differing voltages.  Powerpole connectors can be attached side to side and also stacked on top of each other to make, for example, four connections with one plug insertion.  The contacts are rated for 100,000 no-load insertions and 250 hot-plugs at full load.
  Larger Powerpole connectors (the SB/Multipole series) with two or three contacts in one molded housing are commonly used in various industrial settings, including as a battery connection for some uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), removable vehicle winches, many electric forklifts, and other electric vehicles.
caption: Cutaway view of housing (side view)
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