Date:         Wed, 14 Sep 2011 08:34:39 -0400
Reply-To:     Mike S <mikes@FLATSURFACE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike S <mikes@FLATSURFACE.COM>
Subject:      Re: High quality two pole 60A wiring connectors
In-Reply-To:  <4e708dc4.ed24340a.2d7d.747a@mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 07:19 AM 9/14/2011, David Beierl wrote...

>Two in parallel would give you 150 amps, continuous rating, surely
>enough for jump starting just about anything given that the big load
>lasts only a few seconds.

It doesn't work that way. At those loads, any change in contact
resistance is significant. You only get 150 A if the contact resistance
is _exactly_ the same between both sets (and it won't/can't be),
otherwise one side will end up carrying more current.

Peak load when jump starting is more than 150A, that's sounds like the
sustained load when turning a small car engine (jump start an American
V8 in the winter, and it's going to be more, still).

They make bigger Powerpoles (up to 310 A capacity). If more than 75 is
needed, just pick a bigger set.

PP75=75A
PP120=120-230A
PP180=180-310A

(the PP120 and PP180 have heftier contacts available now than when they
were first developed, which is why the max capacity ratings don't match
the model #'s)