Anderson power connectors

To improve on my portable power project I have bought a slightly higher power inverter. At 600W, the crocodile clips used on smaller models are inadequate and they tend to be wired with screw terminals.

To make it more convenient to swap over batteries, I have bought some 50 Amp power connectors.

I have not used Anderson connectors before and I am pleasantly pleased with how well they are designed.

Within the connector is a built in spring and the terminal pushes in and clips over that spring.

The 50 Amp connectors work with probably 13mm² (6awg) down to 8mm² (8awg) cable. Anything smaller and the crimp is unlikely to hold securely and anything larger will not fit in the enclosed terminal. I used 8mm² flexible silicone insulated cable.

Using a big crimp tool, they are easy to fix. Holding them in place while doing so needed a little thinking about.

Adhesive lined heat shrink added with a hot air gun and the job's neat and tidy.

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Portable power

To go with the portable gazebo for use at the RHS Hyde Hall flower show, I have rigged up an inverter with a large 12V AGM leisure battery.

I calculated that a single 110Ah battery should last all day powering the 42" LED TV. It did and could have gone on longer.

The battery weighs 24kg. Not something you want to carry very far. As it needed to be brought home to charge at the end of each day, I put it in a strong wheeled tool chest.

I always knew the plastic tool chest would look unsightly on the event stand, so I planned to hide it inside a wooden trunk. As it turned out, what worked out a better idea was a 3 sided box with a lid.

That arrangement was easy to transport because it could fold up. It is also quick and easy to surround the tool chest.

I tried to age it with a bit of stain and the age old technique of bashing it with a length of heavy chain. It worked to a degree but if I had more time, I think it could have done with a little more ageing.

The end result blends in well and does its job. It also makes a good seat.

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