After hurricane Charley passed overhead (official track had it passing
directly overhead of my house) blowing off roofs and downing powerlines---we
were out of power for a week, I decided to review my emgergency equipment
capabilites. After extensive Internet study I learned that the power
connectors of choice, endorsed as standards by the ARRL, ARES and RACES for
emergency hookups are the Anderson 'Powerpole' connectors. Using the same
connector body but different internals parts provided a connector with
current capability up to 45 amps. The concept of a 'genderless' connector
was also mentioned. I purchased a large quantity of the 15, 30 and 45 amp
connectors along with the special crimping tool and began to exchange all my
old connectors with the new 'Powerpole' connectors.

When I first got the 'Powerpole' connectors about a year ago and played with
them something odd about them caught my attention but I could not explain
why. A couple of days ago while making connections I discovered that the
'genderless' capabilities of the connector allowed them to be connected
side-to-side, in otherwords, red-to-black, or black-to-red. The possibility
of making a direct short to ground---especially from an automotive battery
exists (grounded chassis/negative ground)! Using the 'Powerpole' connectors
makes it imperative that fuses be inserted inline, not only with the battery
positive terminal as is common practice, but ideally with both sides of the
power leads on the equipment side.

The connectors I used in the past and standardized on were the Amphenol two
pin connectors. The ones with the wide and narrow blade. The female went
to power source, and male to the equipment; furthermore, the cable clamp,
that the 'Powerpole' connector do not have, kept the connecting wires from
being pulled out or broken from repeated flexing. The Amphenol connectors
were not only a gendered connector but could only be coupled one
way---avoiding the problem of the 'Powerpole' connector.

I won't change back to the Amphenol connectors; I'll stay with the
'Powerpole' connectors, but it sure makes them an awkward solution and
'Hammy' way of doing things that require a bit of care when using
them---especially under emergency conditions.

RG