Anderson Power Products®, is an international leader in high power interconnect solutions. In 1877, Anderson began as a small company in Boston, MA making innovative trolley and railway power designs. Today as a subsidiary of IDEAL Industries® our connectors are used around the world across many markets including:  Telecom & IT Equipment, Motive Power, and Alternative Energy. We have manufacturing and distribution locations in the United States, United Kingdom, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Anderson offers a range of connectors to meet power, signal, & ground needs in protected or environmentally exposed applications. Industry leading OEM’s partner with APP for our superior custom design & qualification capabilities. Anderson Power Products is your best connection.

Powerpole® connector

We are known for our renowned Powerpole® (https://www.andersonpower.com/us/en/products/powerpole/index.aspx) and SB®( https://www.andersonpower.com/us/en/products/sb-sb-boots/index.aspx) connectors , manufactured to the highest levels of quality in Central Massachusetts. Anderson offers superior custom design capabilities with an experienced engineering team and an onsite UL & TUV certified testing laboratory.

SB® connector

Our continuous innovation has resulted in an introduction of many high performance and feature rich new products:

We can help you to find the best connector for your next project with our large range of products, (https://www.andersonpower.com/us/en/products/index.aspx), making Anderson Power Products® your choice for reliable and innovative AC/DC power connectors.

Saf-D-Grid® connector,

Customers often inquire as to the suitability of our connectors for customer’s applications. Typical questions are, “Is your product suitable for outdoor applications?” or “Can your product withstand an electrical surge during use without damage?”

SPEC Pak® connector

There are several important points to keep in mind when determining the fit of connectors within your applications. One major consideration is reviewing and understanding the Safety Standards that apply to the market and geographic region you will be selling into. Electrical components like connectors are used in a broad array of applications by OEM’s and end users globally. Each region or even country may have different standards & requirements for the same application. Further, each application may have different levels of performance required within a region or country for certain equipment. For connectors there are generically two groups within this matrix of standards for regions and applications:

  • Dimensional and Performance Normative Standards: These standards define the critical dimensions and performance attributes of specific connector components. Examples include, DIN, EN1175, IEC, etc. These standards are intended to ensure interoperability between different manufacturers of the same connector types that are built and certified to the same standard. Often these standards are created with a specific application in mind and the component certifications can carry de facto determination of suitability when used in equipment certified to the device / application standard.
  • General Performance Standards: These standards essentially provide a test plan to assess the capabilities of a connector component not built to a dimensional & performance normative standard. Examples of these standards include UL 1977, CSA, TUV, etc. General performance standards do not have any de facto determination of suitability, rather they have generic acceptability within conditions. General performance standards include a variety of defined test procedures to assess capabilities in amperage, voltage, and environmental categories.

Ultimately, the best testing is based on your application requirements vs the testing completed by the manufacturer and to understand the normative standards your equipment must pass to determine if additional testing may be required to assure successful performance in real world applications. Lastly, laboratory testing does a great job giving clear indications of the ability for components to be successful but does not completely simulate “real world” environments. In addition most connector’s failures are a result of failing to follow the manufacturer’s directions for assembly and using the required tooling to achieve the performance ratings.

In summation, it is important when choosing a product that the standards governing your product are completely understood and that the product chosen is in compliance. It is helpful to choose a vendor that has expertise in the various standards, has the ability to perform testing in accord with the standards, and can assist in “unwinding” the maze of standards to recommend the product and testing that will assure your success.

Anderson Power Products®

Marketing Department

marketing@andersonpower.com

http://www.andersonpower.com/US/EN/Contact.aspx

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